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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2014; 20(44): 16443-16451
Published online Nov 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i44.16443
Toll-like receptor-mediated signaling cascade as a regulator of the inflammation network during alcoholic liver disease
Sara Ceccarelli, Valerio Nobili, Anna Alisi
Sara Ceccarelli, Valerio Nobili, Anna Alisi, Hepato-Metabolic Disease Unit and Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: Ceccarelli S, Nobili V and Alisi A contributed equally to the conception, drafting and approval of this manuscript.
Supported by Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC), Grant No. MFAG 12936 (to Anna Alisi)
Correspondence to: Anna Alisi, PhD, Hepato-Metabolic Disease Unit and Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, S. Onofrio Square 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. anna.alisi@opbg.net
Telephone: +39-6-68592186 Fax: +39-6-68592904
Received: May 28, 2014
Revised: August 8, 2014
Accepted: September 29, 2014
Published online: November 28, 2014
Processing time: 187 Days and 13.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) pathogenesis is quite complex and requires the activation/inhibition of several molecular pathways. The inflammatory storm caused by alcohol abuse on the gut-liver axis and consequent activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is topical for researchers and physicians, both for understanding ALD pathophysiology and for translating novel clues into clinical practice. Here, we focus on the current evidence of TLR involvement in inflammation during ALD in experimental models and humans, offering readers with no first-hand knowledge of this topic a valuable tool to start novel studies.