Isolated Kupffer cells, endothelial cells and hepatocytes as investigative tools for liver research

The preparation and utilization of purified liver cell subpopulation is becoming an established tool for laboratory research in biological sciences. The various methods employed utilize cell separation based on differential sensitivity to enzymatic digestion, differences in cell size-density characteristics, and differential adherence of the various cell populations to a glass or plastic substrate. As detailed here, the choice of a technique for cell isolation is determined not only by whether parenchymal or nonparenchymal populations are to be used, but also by considerations relevant for the study of specific physiologic parameters. In this paper, techniques for the isolation and enrichment of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells are reviewed, with special attention to the utilization of counterflow elutriation in the preparation of these and other purified nonparenchymal cell populations. As examples of how isolated cells provide useful insights, studies on the properties of hepatocyte and nonparenchymal liver cell glycoprotein receptors, as well as observations on the immunologic functioned capabilities of isolated Kupffer cells, are presented.