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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2013; 19(23): 3534-3542
Published online Jun 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i23.3534
Published online Jun 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i23.3534
Liver-spleen axis: Intersection between immunity, infections and metabolism
Giovanni Tarantino, Antonella Scalera, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University Medical School of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giovanni Tarantino, INT “Fondazione Pascale”, Cancer Research Center of Mercogliano, 83013 Mercogliano (Av), Italy
Carmine Finelli, Center of Obesity and Eating Disorders, Stella Maris Mediterraneum Foundation, 80035 Potenza, Italy
Author contributions: Tarantino G conceived the study and coordinated literature data; Scalera A, Finelli C and Tarantino G drafted the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Giovanni Tarantino, MD, Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University Medical School of Naples, Via Sergio Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. tarantin@unina.it
Telephone: +39-81-7462024 Fax: +39-81-5466152
Received: February 21, 2013
Revised: May 10, 2013
Accepted: May 18, 2013
Published online: June 21, 2013
Revised: May 10, 2013
Accepted: May 18, 2013
Published online: June 21, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: From the literature data it is clear that obesity in humans affects different compartments of immune system. The aim of this review is to let clinicians appreciate the new role of metabolic and endocrine functions of the spleen with special emphasis to obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the context of the available literature. Moreover, understanding the spleen function could be important to develop appropriate prevention strategies in order to counteract the pandemia of obesity. In this direction, we suggest spleen longitudinal diameter at ultrasonography, as simple, cheap and largely available tool, be used as new marker for assessing the liver/spleen axis.