About this Research Topic
Despite its past perception as a non-immunological solid organ involved in metabolism, storage of nutrients, and detoxification, we now know the liver as an important tool in the body’s immune response. The liver is home to various immune cell populations, including monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. In the healthy liver, these immune cells coordinate the innate immune defense against invading pathogens attempting to infect the host via the liver's blood supply. Therefore, the liver serves as a vital site of the innate immunological barrier between the digestive tract and the rest of the body. Additional evidence suggests that innate immunity and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of various liver pathologies including liver fibrosis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, chronic infection, autoimmunity, and malignancies. While liver innate immunity and inflammation have a vital role in immune homeostasis during health, when dysregulated, they are involved in driving the pathogenesis of various liver pathologies.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide an update on innate immune responses in hepatic health and disease. We welcome submissions that characterize the innate immune cell populations, pathways, and soluble mediators involved in the liver immune responses. We also aim to collect submissions that characterize the involvement of the dysregulation of liver innate immunity in various liver pathologies including, liver fibrosis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, chronic infection, autoimmunity, and malignancies. Finally, we will also welcome studies which highlight the potential of the liver innate immune system as a therapeutic target for liver pathologies.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, and Mini Review articles focusing on innate immune responses in hepatic health and disease. We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Innate immune cell populations present in the liver during health and disease
• Innate immune pathways regulating liver immunity in health and disease
• Innate immune mediators involved in liver immunity and inflammation
• Transcriptional regulation of innate immune responses in the liver
• Novel therapeutics targeting the liver innate immune system
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide an update on innate immune responses in hepatic health and disease. We welcome submissions that characterize the innate immune cell populations, pathways, and soluble mediators involved in the liver immune responses. We also aim to collect submissions that characterize the involvement of the dysregulation of liver innate immunity in various liver pathologies including, liver fibrosis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, chronic infection, autoimmunity, and malignancies. Finally, we will also welcome studies which highlight the potential of the liver innate immune system as a therapeutic target for liver pathologies.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, and Mini Review articles focusing on innate immune responses in hepatic health and disease. We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Innate immune cell populations present in the liver during health and disease
• Innate immune pathways regulating liver immunity in health and disease
• Innate immune mediators involved in liver immunity and inflammation
• Transcriptional regulation of innate immune responses in the liver
• Novel therapeutics targeting the liver innate immune system
Keywords: Immunity, immune system, innate immunity, inflammation, liver, liver immunity, hepatic, hepatic immunity, monocytes, macrophages, NAFLD, Cirrhosis
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
