Neurobiology of liver diseases

he nervous system is an important factor that participates in the adaptive and compensatory reactions of the body, not only in physiological but also in pathological processes. Alterations in the activity of the nervous system may contribute to the development of somatic diseases and may also influence their progression. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that the nervous system also plays a role in liver diseases. Depending on the disease and on the mechanisms and pathways, the nervous system can play a positive as well as a negative role in liver diseases. The aim of this review is to describe the mechanisms and pathways through which the nervous system affects the development and progression of the most common liver diseases, such as alcoholic liver damage, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cholestatic liver diseases, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, we also describe the possible therapeutic consequences based on the modulation of signal transmission between the nervous system and the liver. Keywords alcoholic liver damage, autonomic nervous system, cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholestatic liver diseases, neurobiology, fatty liver disease