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The liver as an immunological organ
Author(s) -
WEILERNORMANN CHRISTINA,
REHERMANN BARBARA
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03687.x
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , medicine , acquired immune system , immune tolerance , pathogenesis , population , antigen , innate immune system , immunity , environmental health
The liver is an immunologically distinct organ that contains its own unique population of cells of the innate and adaptive cellular immune response. The liver is known as a site of inflammatory immune responses as well as a site of tolerance induction. This dual function is important to understand the pathogenesis of infectious liver diseases and to understand induction of tolerance upon exposure to oral and allograft antigens. This review will address the unique role of the liver in the immune system.