Tissue reaction of the liver in response to radiation exposure

The liver is one of the vital organs that has many metabolic and secretory functions. Liver consists of several lobes, and each lobe has plenty of hepatic lobules, which contain multiple types of cells, including hepatocytes. An association between radiation exposure and liver tissue reaction has been known for many years. For example, radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) is a well-known adverse effect following radiation therapy. The Life Span Study of atomic bomb survivors has demonstrated that radiation exposure induces liver cancer. Despite the obvious radiation effects on liver tissue, mechanisms of radiation effects are largely unknown due to a lack of detailed information on the roles of each type of cells. Based upon the recent advances in liver biology, the current review overviews the studies aiming at mining the radiation causal effects in association with hepatic tissue reaction against radiation exposure. (author)