Role of the inflammasome in acetaminophen-induced liver injury and acute liver failure.

ABSTRACT: Drug-induced acute liver failure carries a high morbidity and mortality rate. Acetaminophen overdose is the number one cause of acute liver failure and remains a major problem in Western medicine. Administration of N-acetyl cysteine is an effective antidote when given before the initial rise in toxicity; however, many patients present to the hospital after this stage occurs. As such, treatments which can alleviate late-stage acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure are imperative. While the initial mechanisms of toxicity are well described, a debate has recently occurred in the literature over whether there is a second phase of injury, mediated by inflammatory processes. Critical to this potential inflammatory process is the activation of caspase-1 and interleukin-1β by a molecular comple

SUBMITTER: Woolbright BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5362341 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature