Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are a pivotal part of the immune system. They are distributed in almost every site of higher organisms, able to recognize foreign pathogens or unwanted remnants of metabolism and mount innate immune response. Moreover, PRRs create bridging signaling to initiate adaptive immunity. The liver being the largest organ of the body, exposed to myriads of foreign substances often being immunogenic, is well equipped with PRRs. They act as sentinels of the organ, both in health and disease. In viral hepatitis C at least two of them, RIG-1 and TLR3 sense HCV, induce protective interferon production and create proinflammatory status. The hepatitis B virus is apparently invisible to PRRs, which has recently been denied. Besides, they are active in the course of infection. In liver injury and hepatic fibrogenesis Toll-like receptors (TLRs), predominantly TLR4, TLR3 and TLR9 are associated with gut microflora-related products and DNA from dying hepatocytes, lead to the activation of hepatic stellate cells. The latter initiate production of fibrillar collagens, the main agents forming hepatic fibrosis. Tumor cells of primary liver cancer also express PRRs, mainly TLRs. In concert with non-resolving liver inflammation, they are considered pivotal factors leading to carcinogenesis.

模式识别受体（PRR）是免疫系统的关键部分。它们分布在高等生物的几乎每个部位，能够识别外源病原体或不需要的新陈代谢残留物并引发先天免疫反应。此外，PRR创建桥接信令以启动自适应免疫。肝脏是人体最大的器官，暴露于数不清的经常具有免疫原性的异物中，具有良好的PRR功能。它们在健康和疾病方面均充当器官的前哨。在丙型病毒性肝炎中，至少有两个，RIG-1和TLR3可检测HCV，诱导产生保护性干扰素并产生促炎状态。乙肝病毒显然是PRR看不见的，最近已被拒绝。此外，它们在感染过程中是活跃的。在肝损伤和肝纤维化中，主要是TLR4，TLR3和TLR9的Toll样受体（TLRs）与肠道菌群相关的产物和来自垂死的肝细胞的DNA有关，从而导致肝星状细胞的活化。后者引发纤维状胶原蛋白的产生，纤维状胶原蛋白是形成肝纤维化的主要药物。原发性肝癌的肿瘤细胞也表达PRR，主要是TLR。与无法解决的肝脏炎症相一致，它们被认为是导致癌变的关键因素。主要是TLR。与无法解决的肝脏炎症相一致，它们被认为是导致癌变的关键因素。主要是TLR。与无法解决的肝脏炎症相一致，它们被认为是导致癌变的关键因素。