Immune Surveillance of the Liver

The liver possesses distinct immunological features that play a pivotal role in shaping and maintaining adaptive immune responses. In this presentation, I will explore the specialized hepatic circuits that modulate T and B cell dynamics, highlighting hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a prototypical example. Specifically, I will discuss how the liver’s unique environment primes CD8⁺ T cells towards an immune-hyporesponsive state, and how its anatomical and hemodynamic attributes influence immune cell differentiation—particularly in the context of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In addition, I will review recent findings on the contributions of B cells and CD4⁺ T cells to hepatic immunity.
Looking ahead, the talk will also address emerging challenges in the field, proposing the integration of advanced methodologies such as spatial biology, and the synergistic use of murine models alongside human samples, to uncover novel insights into liver immunobiology. Ultimately, these investigations have far-reaching therapeutic implications, informing the development of innovative strategies to combat infectious diseases, malignancies, and inflammatory conditions like nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis.