A Dual Function of Neutrophils in Acute Liver Injury and Repair

Presentation Description / Summary: 

Toxicity induced acute liver injury (ALI) is one of the leading causes of acute liver failure (ALF) in the western world. ALI has limited treatments, high morbidity and mortality, and when induced by paracetamol (APAP), patients progressing to ALF have the worst outcomes. The inflammatory cell response to APAP-ALI is a recognised key component of the pathology and a better understanding of this process is paving the way for novel treatments. Neutrophils, the most abundant, and fastest responding immune cell have controversial roles in APAP-ALI, and this disparity prevents the progression of neutrophil targeted therapies. The authors findings show a time dependent dichotomous role of neutrophils in APAP-ALI, contributing to tissue injury during early phases of the condition and repair in late stages.

This session highlights some of the authors main (in publication) findings within this specific field and showcases some of the authors related published works, defining novel methods to resolve inflammation both in ALI and inflammatory bowel disease.

In dogs and cats very little is known of APAP-ALI pathology, and treatments are translated from human standards. The last aspect of this session touches on current standards of care and areas of needed advancement.

Learner Outcomes: 
Know the current limits of APAP-ALI treatments in people and current standard of care in people

Understand neutrophil functions and the recent shift in knowledge revealing their reparative roles

Basic physiological concepts of innate immune responses and scientific highlights

Exposure/awareness of fundamental research techniques and future possibilities

Exposure/awareness of novel therapies currently being trialled for people

Understand the knowledge and research deficit in dogs and cats areas requiring advancement