Autoreactive T cells: any evidence in autoimmune liver disease?

摘要

Classically, lymphoid organs were considered to be those tissues with exclusively immunological functions; for example, the thymus, lymph nodes and spleen1. This definition has recently been expanded to include organs whose primary function is not immunological but which clearly require dedicated and often elaborate immunological mechanisms to mediate their functions. The gut and the uterus, for example, fall into this category; the liver is also regarded as a lymphoid organ with unique immunological properties. Because of its location and function the liver is continuously exposed to a large antigenic load that includes pathogens, toxins, tumour cells, dietary and self-antigens. The range of local immune mechanisms required to cope with this diverse immunological challenge is the focus of ongoing studies. The liver has an 'epithelial constitution' and contains large numbers of phagocytic cells, antigen-presenting cells (APC) and lymphocytes, and is a site for the production of cytokines, complement components and acute-phase proteins .