Cirrhosis develops when repeated injury to the liver causes chronic inflammation leading to  loss of liver cells (hepatocyte).  Hepatocytes normally have a great ability to regenerate; but the frequency of the damage exceeds the regenerative rate.  As a result, liver tissue,  especially stellate cells, mature and differentiate into fibroblast-like cells which lay down fibrous collagen-rich extracellular matrix.  This fibrous scar tissue does not have the same properties of hepatocytes nor can it perform the actions of a hepatocyte. Thus, the liver is remodeled into an organ that has atrophied and is ‘stiffer’ than a healthy liver which will cause problems for blood to enter via the portal vein (portal hypertension).

Because the liver is physically well protected from repeated physical insults, repeated injury usually occurs internally within the liver itself.  Possible classification of causes of liver damage  are infection, volume-induced trauma, and direct hepatocyte damage.

Like any tissue, the liver can be infected with pathogens such as viruses.  There are over a dozen recognized viruses which can infect,  incubate, reproduce, and cause damage within the liver.  When the infected hepatocyte lyses to release the new viruses, this causes loss of liver tissue and infection of surrounding hepatocytes.  Thus, this viral infection of the liver is  collectively termed as viral hepatitis.

Normally, the body can get over this viral infection and retain some immunity to future infections. However, a few viruses (especially Hepatitis B, C and E) can escape detection from the immune system, thus causing a chronic hepatitis infection.  This chronic infection will cause chronic inflammation which can lead to cirrhosis, and is also a risk factor for liver cancer – especially if untreated.

The liver receives and processes blood coming from the portal vein and hepatic artery, akin to acting like a big sponge.  The liver empties via the hepatic vein –> IVC  (blood) and hepatic ducts (bile).  Any obstructions to either of these outlets will cause a volume overload in the liver which will cause damage and result in an inflammatory response.  Examples of volume-induced trauma are:

Direct damage to hepatocytes

• Inflammatory response:  a healthy immune system resides in the liver (i.e. Kupffer cells/hepatic macrophages) which requires alpha-1-antitrypsin to prevent damage to normal tissue (see Emphysema chapter).  Inheritable alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency will cause unregulated inflammatory response which results in damaging normal tissue along with the intended infected/damaged liver tissue.
• Autoimmune:  a healthy immune system resides in the liver (ie Kupffer cells/hepatic macrophages).  And overactive immune system – such as in autoimmune diseases like lupus in which healthy tissue becomes inappropriately targeted for destruction by immune system cells that can injure and destroy functional hepatocytes, thus causing a subsequent inflammatory response which exacerbates the problem.
• Alcohol- and non-alcohol fatty liver disease:  Hepatocytes store many nutrients and sometimes that storage will cause damage to the surrounding hepatocytes.  Alcohol is metabolized in the liver and stored as fat.  Similarly, some fat is normally stored in hepatocytes from what is absorbed in the diet.  However, excessive fat storage damages the hepatocyte through formation of reactive oxygen species.  In addition an excessive amount of the cytoplasm being occupied by fat droplets will impede hepatocyte function.
• Infiltrative disease:  inheritable conditions sometimes cause abnormal uptake and storage of minerals (e.g. Hemochromatosis, Wilsons disease, sarcoidosis).  Although the liver does store some minerals, abnormally high amounts of stored minerals, like iron become damaging to hepatocytes.
• medications/toxins:  Hepatocytes detoxify substances at a phenomenal rate.  However, it is possible that it can exhaust itself if required. Certain medications, chemotherapy agents, or a combination of medications may literally ‘burn out’ the hepatocyte as it works hard to detoxify. As well, toxins can start to accumulate in the liver causing further damage.

Section Summary

Chronic, repeated damage to the liver will both damage hepatocytes and stimulate inflammation that leads to tissue changes. As a result, the liver loses function and gathers fibrotic scar tissue that does not have hepatocyte function nor the same low flow resistance properties as the original liver tissue.  Causes of repeated injury to liver can be classified based on repeated infection (i.e. hepatitis), volume overload of the liver (i.e. congestion of blood as in heart failure, back up of bile as in biliary obstruction), and direct damage to hepatocytes (i.e. chemical toxins, accumulation/infiltration of damaging substances, inflammatory attack of hepatocytes)

Review Questions