Kupffer Cells

Authors: Chandrashekhar R Gandhi

Publish Date: 2011

Volume: , Issue: , Pages: 81-95

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Abstract

Kupffer cells the resident macrophages in the liver constitute the largest population of stationary macrophages in any organ They constitute about 30–35 of the nonparenchymal cell volume and reside in the hepatic sinusoids adhering to the specialized endothelial cells Kupffer cells are formed by differentiation of mature monocytes derived from bone marrow stem cells Apart from phagocytosis and destruction of bacteria viruses and products derived thereof Kupffer cells clear a variety of noxious substances dumped in the portal blood by visceral organs They produce a variety of chemotactic inflammatory growthmodulatory and vasoactive molecules including TNFα IL6 IFNα and IFNβ IL1β plateletactivating factor eicosanoids TGFα TGFβ carbon monoxide and nitric oxide Upon reacting with bacterial lipopolysaccharides or following phagocytosis Kupffer cells also produce reactive oxygen species ROS that cause injury to the parenchymal cells Kupffer cells express antigenpresenting MHCI and MHCII and costimulatory CD80 CD86 molecules as well as immunosuppressive cytokines IL10 and TGFβ With these properties Kupffer cells play important roles in liver regeneration reperfusion injury alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis as well as innate and adaptive immunological functions of the liver

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