Therapeutic potential of phages in autoimmune liver diseases

Summary

Autoimmune liver disease (ALD) poses a difficult medical challenge as there is a significant number of patients in whom current therapy offers questionable or no benefit yet its side effects may be serious including the development of malignancy. Bacterial viruses (phages) have been increasingly recognized as immunomodulators contributing to immune homeostasis and curbing inflammation. Accumulating data suggest that phages may be useful in immunotherapy of ALD. Phages have been shown to downregulate the expression and/or production and activity of factors associated with hepatic injury (reactive oxygen species, TLR4 activation, NF-kappaB activation, pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant activities of platelets) and upregulate the expression and/or production of factors demonstrated as playing protective role (Il-10, Il-1 receptor antagonist). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.