Role of inflammation in chemical-induced hepatotoxicity

The liver, which is the major organ responsible for the metabolism of drugs and toxic chemicals, is also the primary target organ for many toxic chemi cals. Increasing evidence has indicated that inflammatory processes are int imately involved in chemical-induced hepatotoxic processes, and like other inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmunity, are responsible for producing mediators that can effect liver damage or repair. This review will summariz e our current understanding of how inflammatory processes influence hepatic pathology and repair following exposure to established hepatotoxic chemica ls including carbon tetrachloride, an industrial chemical, and acetaminophe n, a widely used analgesic. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All righ ts reserved.