Stress Proteins in Inflammatory Liver Disease

The acute phase response in systemic inflammatory conditions is centered on the liver, where protein synthesis is rapidly adjusted to the need of the endangered organism. The normal liver seems to express only very low levels of hsp 60. Immunohistology using the ML30 murine monoclonal antibody was used in two studies. In the report by Koskinas, very low level hsp 60 expression was found in less than 5% of hepatocytes, if at all, in healthy individuals or in those with fatty liver disease. Expression of and immunity to hsp 60, as explained elsewhere in this book, has been thought to play a critical role in the immunopathogenesis and prepetuation of autoimmune diseases. Except for its induction by alcohol, the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis is poorly understood. Chronic viral hepatitis types B and C are very common diseases. The reasons why a viral infection can cause persistent mild to moderate organ-specific inflammation without inducing elimination of the virus are incompletely understood.