The liver may be viewed as the major part of the body and plays both the role as a producer and a garbage disposer. It synthesizes plasma proteins (e.g. albumin, coagulation, complement and acute-phase proteins), along with other molecules such as glycogen, cholesterol. The liver also has a central role in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, bile production, detoxification and drug metabolism (Langhans W. 2003 and Matsumoto et al 2000). Liver is composed of parenchymal cells (i.e hepatocytes) performing various functions such as energy synthesis and bile production The non-parenchymal cells of the liver, are represented by 3 cell types— Kupffer cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LECs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) (Kmiec Z. 2001)
1. Kupffer cells are tissue macrophages which are
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HSCs or fat-storing cells or Ito cells are located in the perisinusoidal space (Hellerbrand C, 2013). It stores vitamin A, synthesis extracellular matrix and regulate the contractility of sinusoids (Friedman SL, 2008). After liver injury, cytokine TGFβ activates HSCs, which transforms into a myofibroblast (Asahina K, 2012). Due to activation of HSC retinol storage capacity is lost and HSCs express contractile fibers, and secrete extra-cellular matrix (ECM) proteins. This ECM causes liver fibrosis and later cirrhosis (Kmiec Z. 2001 and Kocabayoglu P, Friedman SL, 2013)
RAGEs expression and localization in different cells of the liver varies within and across species. The primary evidence of RAGE in liver tissue was reported when it was found in bovine hepatocytes although it was not detected in Kupffer cells or LECs (Bret J et al 1993). Recently, elevated levels of RAGE in the hepatic steallate cells (HSCs), hepatocytes and bile ducts of normal human livers and weak expressions in LECs and Kupffer cells are observed (Butscheid M
et al, 2007). In Fig. 1, the types and sites of the cells that constitute the liver along with AGE receptor localization i.e. RAGE is
Hepatocytes are involved in synthesizing proteins, cholesterol, bile salts, fibrinogen, phospholipids and glycoproteins. Additionally, hepatocytes ensure that our
Glucagon acts on liver cells to promote breakdown of glycogen into glucose and formation of glucose from lactic acid and certain amino acids.
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
As the Directors at Sharp Reese Medical Facility it is important to raise awareness about the importance of the liver to the human body and the many important functions that it performs for the body such as digestion and the filtration of toxins and drugs from
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)
Liver is a complex organ which has vital functions in synthesis , detoxification and regulation; its failure therefore has life threatening condition.
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 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
Patients with cirrhosis are susceptible to bacterial infections that frequently result in acute-on-chronic liver failure (9-11). Cirrhosis is thought to be the most common immunodeficiency syndrome worldwide with an occurrence of bacterial infections in 30 to 50% of hospitalized patients (12,13). The overall median mortality rate of infected cirrhotic patients is 38% (14). In cirrhosis, sepsis is frequently accompanied by an imbalanced cytokine response leading to excessive inflammation. Bacterial infections develop as a consequence of immune dysfunction that occurs progressively during the course of cirrhosis. (15,16). During severe bacterial infections, disruption of the integrity of the endothelial barrier markedly increases permeability to fluids, solutes and inflammatory cells. The activation status of leukocytes has been shown to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality (17-19). Of particular interest, many of these studies demonstrated activation rather than a depression of peripheral mononuclear cells in cirrhosis (20-23). Given that the liver plays an essential role in several stages of lipid synthesis, transportation and metabolism, hypocholesterolemia is frequently found in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (24). Interestingly, low circulating cholesterol levels show a strong correlation with survival
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 Gastroenterological Society of Australia estimated that the annual cost for liver disease in 2012 was $50.7 billion in Australia for about 6.1 million patients (Amany Zekry et al 2013). Another study in the UK showed that the mortality from liver cirrhosis in Scotland more than doubled in men and increased by half in women (Leon and McCambridge 2006). In the US, estimates are 360 every 100000 subject diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and it is the most common cause of death with approximately 30000 deaths annually (Befeler and Di Bisceglie 2002; El-Serag and Mason 2000). This chapter will review the current understanding of normal hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, common causes of chronic liver injury and the associated pathophysiological hepatic cellular and inflammatory responses, as well as the progression of injury. Finally, it will outline the current available treatments, focusing on the use of cell
Describe one area in your life in which you have followed Utilitarianismin deciding upon a course of action. What was your reasoning? Looking back now, do you think your decision was ethically appropriate?
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
Sometime you feel like you have control of everything in the world,but in reallize you don't. For example in " Macbeth" Macbeth try really hard to make sure that his destiny wouldnt come true. A other example of this is the "Sport Gene" Holm try so hard at the high jump so he could beat Thomas. But in the end Holm sitll loss. SO it didnt matter how hard you try to make something happen or not happen, sometime it just the way your destiny is setup.