Figure 3
From: Liver immunology and its role in inflammation and homeostasis
Regulation of systemic homeostasis by the liver. In a healthy individual, the liver produces a range of serum proteins including albumin, clotting factors and complement. During acute infection hepatocytes are induced to produce a range of antimicrobial proteins, inflammatory mediators, coagulation factors and opsonins, collectively known as the acute phase response. Inflammatory cytokines produced in the liver (for example, IL-6) enhance the acute phase response, alter thermoregulation and induce leukocytosis.
