Differential nitric oxide and TNF-alpha production of murine Kupffer cell subfractions upon priming with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha.
OBJECTIVE
We have previously shown a striking heterogeneity of naive murine Kupffer cells (KC) that depends on cell size.


METHODS
In the present study, we demonstrate a shift in response of KC fractions separated on cell size by countercurrent elutriation upon priming with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).


RESULTS
Whereas unprimed large KC are most active in the production of TNF-alpha and nitric oxide (NO), after priming of KC with TNF-alpha predominantly small and intermediate sized KC produce TNF-alpha in response to bacteria. Priming with IFN-gamma enhanced NO production in all KC. A strong synergy, with respect to production of NO, was observed when KC subfractions were exposed to a combination of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Concerning TNF-alpha production, priming of KC subfractions seemed to induce a shift of activity from large KC to smaller KC.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data demonstrate a clear heterogeneity among murine KC with respect to immunologic response to stimuli. These results demonstrate that KC have different functions in immunologic reactions that seem to be related to size.
ten Hagen
T L
TL
Dept. Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Therapy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. TENHAGEN@HEEL.FGG.EUR.NL
van Vianen
W
W
Heremans
H
H
Bakker-Woudenberg
I A
IA
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000502:physiology; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma