Kupffer Cells: The Liver

As the Directors at the Sharp Rees Medical Facility, we will be talking about the liver. The liver is a very important organ in the human body as it does not just perform one function but is involved in multiple tasks. Some interesting facts about the liver; it weighs under five pounds, it has a shape like a half football and everyone is born with one. Just like most other disease or disorder, if the liver has not been taken care of properly there are many negative outcomes that can affect and destroy the liver. There are many complications when the liver is abused or damage for example cancer, hemochromatosis, gallbladder or

Hepatocytes are involved in synthesizing proteins, cholesterol, bile salts, fibrinogen, phospholipids and glycoproteins. Additionally, hepatocytes ensure that our

The liver’s job is to produce bile, and in return the job of the bile is to emulsify or break down the large amounts of fat, which will assist the body in digesting the remaining food easier (Guyton & Hall, 2011). The next stage is metabolism. The digestive systems job is to metabolize and break down the needed energy for the body and to send the excess wastes to go through detoxification (Guyton & Hall, 2011). As the blood circulates through the portal vein, toxins are removed, to prevent a rise in ammonia levels (Guyton & Hall, 2011). Once all wastes have been removed, the needed vitamins and nutritional needs are stored in the tissues in the body (Guyton & Hall, 2011). The next stage is the production of prothrombin and fibrinogen for coagulation and finally the immunity is for the Kupffer cells to attack and

The liver is the largest gland and second largest organ in the human body. It is also the only internal organ capable of regeneration following injury. Located in the abdominal cavity, this reddish brown organ is divided into lobes of different size and shape. The liver plays a critical role in metabolism, digestion, elimination, and detoxification, among other processes. This organ performs a surprisingly large number of functions that influence virtually all other body systems. This is why diseases of the liver can be so devastating. One class of chronic diseases affecting the liver is cirrhosis. (Kasper, 2008)

The liver is a key organ when it comes to making the body function properly (National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, 2003). As the second largest organ the body has, next to the skin, it serves many purposes. It produces immune agents to control infections, removes germs, bacteria and poisons from the blood, and it makes proteins that produce bile and keep

The liver’s most important functions include the removal and excretion of wastes and toxins found within the body (Mehter and Sateesha, 2002). Many substances can enter the blood supply by either metabolic

Cirrhosis is a condition that results in development of fibrosis in liver, resulting in decrease in

Chronic liver diseases and liver biopsy. Chronic liver diseases encompass many different causes, including viral infections, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol abuse, primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary hemochromatosis, and autoimmune disease. All of these precipitate chronic damage to the liver via necroinflammation and subsequent cellular injury and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins distorting the hepatic architecture by forming hepatic fibrosis with abnormal collagen deposition. Without treatment, the eventual development of cirrhosis (the end stage of fibrosis) can accelerate to hepatocellular dysfunction, hepatic insufficiency, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thus

Liver is a complex organ which has vital functions in synthesis , detoxification and regulation; its failure therefore has life threatening condition.

The liver is the second most complex organ after the brain and controls critical processes within the body, including detoxification, metabolism, protein synthesis and digestion (Malarkey et al 2005). The liver is also responsible for cholesterol homeostasis and lipoprotein metabolism. The majority of the serum proteins are produced and secreted from the liver including clotting factors, albumin, and hormones. The liver is also responsible for metabolism of endogenous compounds such as ammonia and exogenous compounds like drugs and toxic components. Moreover, the catabolism of amnion acids and glycogen takes place in the liver.

Cirrhosis refers to a combination of liver diseases that interfere with the normal function of the liver after destroying liver structures. The disease causes the formation of scar tissue in the liver that kills liver cells thereby causing inflammation (Fabris 716). The cells that have survived would tend to multiply rapidly to replace the dead cells. It results to regenerative nodules in the scar due to clustering of the newly formed liver cells. Cirrhosis is caused in varied ways that range from the chemical cause like alcohol to viruses. Besides, heavy and toxic metals like mercury, lead, copper and iron cause cirrhosis if they accumulate in the liver. The liver is a detoxicating organ of the body that purify

Liver synthetic functions are assessed by protein and coagulation factors synthesis. Decrease in protein synthesis affects albumin .nevertheless; albumin is not specific or sensitive enough to detect compromised function. Protein loss with ascites might decrease albumin levels; so

The liver is a vital organ which has multiple functions to keep the body operating normally. The liver stores vitamins, sugar and iron to help give the human body energy. It controls the production and removal of cholesterol and clears the blood of waste products, drugs and other toxins. Furthermore, the liver makes clotting factors to prevent excessive bleeding after cuts or injuries. The liver produces immune factors and clears away bacteria

Chronic liver diseases is one of main threaten to human health. Many sources can lead to chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis virus infection: hepatitis B mainly in East Asia and hepatitis C in North America, unhealthy lifestyle: excessive drinking and/or obese induced fatty liver disease (Jarčuška et al., 2010). Most kinds of chronic liver diseases will lead to liver inflammation, hepatocellular dysfunction, activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and accumulation of extracellular matrix, which is known as liver fibrosis, then further developed to cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver has the regeneration capability, in chronic liver diseases, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are activated and proliferate abundantly, overexpress collagens and other extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrillar compounds to replace damaged liver parenchyma, this process is known as liver fibrosis. The early stage of liver fibrosis is reversible when appropriate antifibrotic therapies are used and/or causative agents are removed. If not, liver fibrosis will develop to irreversible cirrhosis (Bataller and

The liver is the second largest organ in the body and carries out a variety of functions including immunological, vascular, secretory and excretory functions. In addition, it is also a key player in the metabolic control of the body by being critically involved in protein, glucose and fat metabolism (1). Briefly, the liver synthesizes non-essential amino acids and builds up most of the plasma proteins including albumin, clotting factors and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I. Additionally, it removes toxic ammonia from the body by the hepatocyte-mediated conversion of ammonia into urea which is then excreted through the kidneys. The liver plays a prominent role in regulating blood glucose levels. After a meal, excess glucose is removed from the blood