Inflammasome-induced inflammation and fibrosis in liver

Inflammasome activation is crucial in acute and chronic liver injury. For various liver diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, acute liver failure, viral hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, pathophysiologic mechanisms involving inflammasome activation have been described. These intracellular multiprotein complexes are present in liver parenchymal cells (hepatocytes) as well as in hepatic nonparenchymal cells, including liver resident macrophages (Kupffer cells), liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, and other cell types. Inflammasomes can sense danger signals coming from infectious and noninfectious (sterile) sources and translate these signals into a robust inflammatory response that starts with activation of caspases and downstream cleavage and activation of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-18. In this chapter, the role of inflammasomes in liver diseases in particular in modulation of chronic inflammation and fibrosis will be discussed.