Novel treatment of acute and acute‐on‐chronic liver failure: Interleukin‐22

Abstract

AbstractAcute liver failure (ALF) is a life‐threatening medical condition, characterized by rapidly progressive hepatic dysfunction, coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy in patients without chronic liver disease, while acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) occurs in patients with existing chronic liver disease. ALF and ACLF are often associated with multiple organ failure and a high short‐term mortality. In this review, we briefly discuss the causes and pathogenesis of ALF and ACLF, the current options available for the treatment of both deadly maladies and interleukin‐22 (IL‐22), a novel promising drug that may have great therapeutic potential for ALF and ACLF treatment. IL‐22 is a cytokine produced by immune cells but mainly targets epithelial cells including hepatocytes. IL‐22 has been shown to protect against organ damage and reduce bacterial infection in many preclinical models and several clinical trials including alcohol‐associated hepatitis. The potential application of IL‐22 for the treatment of ALF and ACLF is also elaborated.