Abstract
The liver is a major metabolic organ and an immunologically complex organ. It produces and uses many substances such as acute phase proteins, cytokines, chemokines, and complementary components to maintain the balance between immunity and tolerance. Interleukins are important immune control cytokines, that are produced by many body cells. In liver injury, interleukins are produced in large amount by various cell types, and act as pro-inflammatory (e.g. interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, IL-17, and IL-33) as well as anti-inflammatory (e.g. IL-10) functions in hepatic cells. Recently, interleukins are regarded as interesting therapeutic targets for the treatment of liver fibrosis patients. Hepatic cells such as hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and hepatic macrophages are involved to the initiation, perpetuation, and resolution of fibrosis. The understanding of the role of interleukins in such cells provides opportunity for the development of therapeutic target drugs. This paper aims to understand the functional roles of interleukins in hepatic and immune cells when the liver is damaged, and suggests the possibility of interleukins as a new treatment target in liver fibrosis.
Highlights
Fibrosis is the pathological feature and the end result of chronic inflammatory reaction induced by various types of injuries in several organs including skin, kidney, lung, heart, intestine, and liver
Treatment at the liver fibrosis stage that prevents the progression of the disease, and that leads to resolution is very important
We focused on the pro-inflammatory interleukins: interleukin (IL)13, IL-17, and IL-33, anti-inflammatory interleukin: IL-10 based on the numerous studies published in recent years that clearly showed their functions and effects
Summary
Fibrosis is the pathological feature and the end result of chronic inflammatory reaction induced by various types of injuries in several organs including skin, kidney, lung, heart, intestine, and liver. We have shown the main roles of interleukins in a complex and active cross-talk between hepatic cells responses during liver injury, and their potential as therapeutic targets.
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