The Dual Role of Myeloid- Derived Suppressor Cells in Liver Pathologies

Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that expands during infection, inflammation and cancer and has the ability to suppress T-cell responses. Therefore these cells constitute a unique component of the immune system that regulates immune responses not only in healthy individuals but also in the context of various diseases, including acute and chronic liver pathologies as well as hepatocellular carcinoma. In this article, we review the available data on the distribution and function of MDSCs in liver diseases and discuss whether and how the properties of these cells could be manipulated for therapeutic purposes.