Signalling in the Liver

The hepatocyte adapts its metabolic and excretory function to changes in nutrient supply, xenobiotics, cytokines and hormones, which provides a basis for the role of the liver in the maintenance of the body's homeostasis. Such adaptations of hepatocellular function to the environment require not only structures for recognition of signal molecules and for the sensing of environmental alterations, but also machineries which transfer this information to intracellular effector sites. Considerable progress has been made during recent years with respect to the understanding of membrane-associated receptor systems and the molecular mechanisms by which signals are transduced from these receptors to the effector sites inside the cell, i.e. the nucleus and other organelles, the cytoskeleton and various enzymes. A complex signal transduction network involving a coordinated action of a variety of protein kinase and phosphatase cascades has been identified. Such signalling events are not only important for the understanding of the physiological regulation of liver cell function, but also provide new pathophysiological and therapeutic aspects.
This book, the proceedings of a Falk Workshop on `Signalling in the Liver' (Part IV of the Liver Week Freiburg 1997) held in Freiburg, Germany, October 6, brings together an international forum of experts in both basic science and clinical applications.