Androgen and androgen receptor signals jamming monocyte/macrophage functions in premalignant phase of livers

There is a widely discussed concept that chronic inflammation and repeated damage- repair cycles result in malignant transformation of the liver. Kupffer cells are the major host defending macrophages that reside in the liver. They are also considered as critical in episodes of cancer immune surveillance that wipe out liver malignancies, yet, turn into cancer assisting cells in certain conditions. Monocyte/macrophage population and cytokine profile hierarchization in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased the curiosity to search for macrophage modulators. Androgenic signals [androgen/androgen receptors (A/AR)] play an important role in liver function and disease progression. Basic and clinical studies have revealed that A/AR might play a biphasic function in HCC progression. Whether A/AR work with TAM to further manipulate HCC progression is of great interest. In this review article, we will focus on the interaction of hepatocytes and monocytes/macrophages in preneoplastic/ inflammatory liver diseases, underlining A/AR actions.