Inflammasomes in liver diseases

Inflammation is a common element in the pathogenesis of most chronic liver diseases that lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Inflammation is characterized by activation of innate immune cells and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF alpha. Inflammasomes are intracellular multiprotein complexes expressed in both parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells of the liver that in response to cellular danger signals activate caspase-1, and release IL-1 beta and IL-18. The importance of inflamma-some activation in various forms of liver diseases in relation to liver damage, steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis is discussed in this review. (C) 2012 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.