Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell: An Update

This update focuses on two main topics. First, recent developments in our understanding of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) function will be reviewed, specifically elimination of blood-borne waste, immunological function of LSECs, interaction of LSECs with liver metastases, LSECs and liver regeneration, and LSECs and hepatic fibrosis. Second, given the current emphasis on rigor and transparency in biomedical research, the update discusses the need for standardization of methods to demonstrate identity and purity of isolated LSECs, pitfalls in methods that might lead to a selection bias in the types of LSECs isolated, and questions about long-term culture of LSECs. Various surface markers used for immunomagnetic selection are reviewed.