Cytokines and liver diseases

Cytokines and chemokines are sharing in the immunological background of the liver as hepatocytes, NK cells, dendritic cells and kupffer cells produce pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are critical for regulating local immunity and inflammation. For example; dendretic cells from healthy liver induce Interleukin -10 (IL-10) and IL-4 secretion by mononuclear cells which keep interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) level low and promote tolerance (Dowlati et al, 2010). IL-12 produced by hepatic myeloid cells, including monocytes, kupffer cells and dendritic cells influences the maturation of NK cells, CD8 T cells, all of which have cytotoxic and tumoicidal activities (Kelly et al, 2004).