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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
07:46

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

Published on: April 3, 2017

The Hepatic Crown-like Structure: A Focal Point for Macrophage Evolution and Disease Response in Steatotic Liver

Kyle Yuquimpo1, Ayobami Dare1, Isabel Aranzazu Pulido Ruiz1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.

Livers
|August 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The hepatic crown-like structure (hCLS) is crucial in steatotic liver disease, processing lipids and regulating inflammation. It comprises diverse macrophages, impacting fibrosis and macrophage development.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The hepatic crown-like structure (hCLS) is a macrophage aggregate around dying hepatocytes in steatotic liver disease.
  • Initially viewed as an inflammatory response, hCLS is now recognized for its roles in lipid processing, inflammation, fibrosis, and macrophage development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review critical findings on hCLSs.
  • To elucidate the role of hCLSs in macrophage development and function within steatotic liver diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Lineage tracing studies.
  • Transcriptomic analysis.
  • Macrophage phenotyping.

Main Results:

  • hCLSs contain heterogeneous macrophages, primarily bone marrow-derived infiltrating macrophages (IMs) and Kupffer cells (KCs).
  • Macrophage subtypes include Lipid-Associated Macrophages (LAMs) and LAM-like KCs, expressing specific surface proteins (e.g., GPNMB, TREM2, VSIG4).
  • hCLSs are key in lipid handling and inflammation, with debated roles in fibrogenesis and matrix remodeling.

Conclusions:

  • hCLSs are vital multicellular structures in steatotic liver disease.
  • Understanding hCLS macrophage heterogeneity is crucial for therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research is needed to clarify hCLS involvement in liver fibrosis.

Keywords:
Kupffer cellcrown-like structurehepatic crown-like structurelipid-associated macrophagesteatotic liver disease

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