ABSTRACT
The liver is an important, multifunctional organ with major roles in the synthesis of plasma proteins, in detoxification and excretion of potentially harmful exogenous and endogenous substances, and in digestion and absorption through the secretion of bile. The gallbladder is connected to the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts by the cystic duct. The initial damage in the pancreas in gallstone acute pancreatitis appears to be to the pancreatic duct epithelial cells. The intrahepatic biliary tree originates from the surrounding developing liver and this process involves complex control of cell proliferation, migration, and programmed cell death. The predominant inflammatory cell type is the T lymphocyte; these cells may have a key role in liver cell apoptosis. The inflammatory response to cell death includes cytokine production which triggers hepatic stellate cells to synthesize collagen. The excess iron is found in hepatocytes but, as the severity of iron overload increases, it is also found in Kupffer cells and the biliary epithelium.
