Prospective Studies on Immunopathogenesis of Liver Fibrosis

The immune system is thought to play a key role in the development of liver inflammation and subsequent liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. In the case of viral hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis, for example, numerous studies have focused on the acquired antigen-specific immunity. However, the liver is the site of increased occurrence of the components of the innate immune response (NK and NKT cells) and, in contrast to T cells, these T cells, these do not require antigen presentation. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine which cellular components of the (NK, NKT, dendritic cells, macrophages) or the acquired immune response (CD4, CD8) or which network of immune cells is involved in the immunopathogenesis of progressive liver inflammation or the development of liver fibrosis. The aim is to identify lymphocyte populations that exhibit either prognostically favorable or unfavorable characteristics. This should allow conclusions to be drawn for a more targeted and individualized therapy of the respective chronic liver diseases.