Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with, among other things, the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and disease; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders (autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, immune deficiency, allograft rejection); the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the immune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Immunology has various applications in several disciplines of science, and as such is further divided. Liver Immunology: Principles and Practice covers bacterial, parasitic and viral infections of the liver, autoimmune liver disease, alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, and transplantation in an easy-to-read and thorough format. Authors also address the key issues that have arisen in this field in recent years, including physiological roles of hepatocytes, sinusoidal lining cells, activated macrophages (Kupffer cells), cholangiocytes and stellate cells, and their modulation of T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and NKT cells. This volume will become a must-read for clinicians, investigators and students, novice and expert alike.

This work assembles chapters on the current understanding of liver immunology. Chapters are in sections on bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections of the liver; autoimmune liver diseases; alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases; acute liver failure; hepatotoxicity of medications; and transplantation. The book also addresses key issues that have arisen in the field in recent years, such as the physiological roles of hepatocytes, sinusoidal lining cells, activated macrophages (Kupffer cells), cholangiocytes, and stellate cells, and their modulation of the T cells, natural killer cells, and NKT cells. The book is for clinicians, investigators, and students. Gershwin is affiliated with the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contemporary Liver Immunology and Immunopathology.- Clinical Use of Immunosuppressive Drugs to Control the Immune Response.- A Short Primer of Fundamental Immunology.- Role and Function of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells.- Innate Immune Mechanisms in the Liver.- Antigen Processing and Presentation in the Liver.- Adaptive Immunity in the Liver.- Hepatic NK, NKT and T Cells.- Cytokines in Liver Health and Disease.- Prevalence and Significance of Autoantibodies in Acute and Chronic Liver Diseases and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.- The Role of Inflammation and Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Liver Fibrosis.- Clinical Use of Immunopathology Techniques in Liver Diseases.- Tumor Immunology.- Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses to Bacterial and Parasite Infections.- Immune Response to Hepatitis A and E Viruses.- Role of the Immune Response in Hepatitis B.- Immune Responses in Acute and Chronic Hepatitis C.- Immunopathogenesis of Extrahepatic Manifestations in HAV, HBV and HCV Infections.- Immunogenetics of Autoimmune Liver Diseases.- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Autoimmune Cholangitis.- Sclerosing Cholangitis.- Autoimmune Hepatitis.- Unique Aspects of Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children.- Overlap Syndromes of Autoimmune Hepatitis with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.- Animal Models of Autoimmune Liver Diseases.- The Immune Response in the Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease.- Immunomodulatory Therapy for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis.- Role of Immune Response in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases.- Mechanisms of Acute Liver Failure.- Immune Mechanisms in Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity.- Acute and Chronic Liver Diseases Induced by Drugs or Xenobiotics.- Clinical Use of Immunosuppressive Drugs to Control the Immune Response.- Hepatic Complications of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.- Acute and Chronic Rejection of the Liver Allograft.- Immunologic Tolerance in Allo- and Xenografts.- Autoimmune Diseases in Transplanted Livers.- Immunopathogenesis and Outcomes of Recurrent Hepatitis C.