The liver microcirculation might be important in promoting autoimmune hepatitis via maintaining an inflammatory cytokine milieu – A mathematical model study

In autoimmune diseases, inflammatory cytokine concentrations are important for initiating and maintaining the status of autoimmunity. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disease characterized by a loss of immune tolerance against specific antigens located in hepatocytes. During the progression of the disease, antigen-presenting cells and different classes of T-helper cells secret specific cytokines important for maintaining the disease. As these cytokines are secreted into the local liver environment, the blood flow in liver sinusoids might influence the local cytokine concentration. Considering…