Hepatotropism

Hepatotropism refers to the affinity of a pathogen, parasite, or malignant cell for the liver, i.e., its tendency to infect, replicate in, or metastasize to hepatic tissue. It is a specific case of tissue tropism, determined by interactions between the agent and liver-specific factors such as receptors, entry cofactors, immune environment, and blood flow.

In virology, hepatotropic agents commonly target hepatocytes or liver-resident macrophages (Kupffer cells). Mechanisms include binding to hepatocyte receptors, intracellular compatibility for replication, and strategies to evade hepatic defenses. For example, hepatitis B and D viruses utilize the NTCP receptor on hepatocytes; hepatitis C virus also shows strong hepatic tropism.

Parasitic liver stages, such as Plasmodium species, infect hepatocytes before dissemination. In oncology, some cancers preferentially metastasize to the liver, guided by portal circulation and liver microenvironment.

Clinical significance includes liver injury, jaundice, and implications for diagnosis and treatment. Hepatotropism influences vaccine and antiviral design, as well as liver-targeted therapies and gene delivery vectors, and remains a focus of research across infectious disease, parasitology, and cancer biology.