Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Long Term Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy Imaging of Immune Cells in Healthy and Diseased Liver Using CXCR6.Gfp Reporter Mice
11:44

Long Term Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy Imaging of Immune Cells in Healthy and Diseased Liver Using CXCR6.Gfp Reporter Mice

Published on: March 24, 2015

12.6K

Possible Involvement of Liver Resident Macrophages (Kupffer Cells) in the Pathogenesis of Both Intrahepatic and

Yuki Kakinuma1, Takuya Kimura1, Yoshifumi Watanabe1

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo 202-0023, Japan.

Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|August 15, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Kupffer cells (KCs) drive liver inflammation and also contribute to systemic chronic inflammation, such as in arthritis. Deleting KCs reduced liver injury and inhibited arthritis development.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Hepatology
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Kupffer cells (KCs) are liver-resident macrophages crucial for hepatic inflammation.
  • Their precise role in systemic inflammation, particularly chronic conditions, remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of KCs in both intrahepatic and extrahepatic inflammation.
  • To determine if KCs contribute to systemic chronic inflammatory diseases.

Main Methods:

  • KC depletion using clodronate liposomes in mouse models.
  • Assessment of ConA-induced T cell-mediated hepatitis (local acute inflammation).
  • Evaluation of DSS-induced colitis (ectopic local acute inflammation) and collagen-induced arthritis (systemic chronic inflammation).

Main Results:

  • KC depletion suppressed ConA-induced hepatitis but did not affect DSS-induced colitis.
  • KC deletion significantly inhibited collagen-induced arthritis, reducing disease severity.
  • Mice lacking KCs exhibited milder arthritis symptoms and joint damage.

Conclusions:

  • Kupffer cells play a significant role in intrahepatic inflammation.
  • KCs are critically involved in the pathogenesis of systemic chronic inflammation, notably arthritis.

More Related Videos

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation07:46

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation

Published on: April 3, 2017

26.0K
A Simple and Efficient Method to Isolate Macrophages from Mixed Primary Cultures of Adult Liver Cells08:10

A Simple and Efficient Method to Isolate Macrophages from Mixed Primary Cultures of Adult Liver Cells

Published on: May 24, 2011

38.9K

Related Concept Videos

Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
9.8K
Liver Regeneration01:24

Liver Regeneration

The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are...
4.5K
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
9.0K
Inflammation01:38

Inflammation

Overview
62.8K
Liver Histology01:27

Liver Histology

The microscopic anatomy of the liver is a complex and intricate system that comprises numerous structural units known as liver lobules, each of which is comparable in size to a sesame seed. These hexagonal structures consist of plates of liver cells or hepatocytes, which are characterized by their versatility and abundance of cellular apparatus like rough and smooth ER, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, and mitochondria.
Hepatocytes perform a variety of essential functions. They secrete...
4.8K
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
2.8K