Losing balance: cytokine signaling and cell death in the context of hepatocyte injury and hepatic failure

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) represents a clinical scenario that is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and very limited treatment options. Therefore, great efforts have been made recently on defining its biological mechanisms. This article gives an overview of the cellular processes that are linked to the loss of hepatocytes as a reaction to various agents that cause hepatic failure, and summarizes recent results from clinical and experimental studies of the role of pro- and antiapoptotic cytokines and their intracellular signaling in this context.