Phagocytosis and LPS-stimulated production of cytokines and prostaglandin E2 is different in Kupffer cells isolated from the periportal or perivenous liver region.
BACKGROUND
Kupffer cells can release pro-inflammatory mediators and contribute to damage, which often appears in a zonated fashion.


METHODS
To assess position-associated functional differences, functions of intact Kupffer cells isolated from either the periportal or perivenous acinar region of rat liver were compared.


RESULTS
Kupffer cells from the periportal region phagocytosed 2-3 times more FITC-labelled zymosan particles than corresponding perivenous cells, as determined by confocal microscopy and fluorescence assay. Periportal cells also produced more TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, but less NO and PGE2, compared to perivenous cells and the stimulation by addition of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was moderate. In contrast, after overnight culture LPS dramatically increased TNF-alpha release and significantly more so in perivenous Kupffer cells (26-fold) than in periportal cells (11-fold).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that periportal Kupffer cells are responsible for a major part of phagocytosis by the liver. The stronger LPS response of recovered perivenous Kupffer cells suggests a dominant role of these cells in pro-inflammatory events that ultimately may contribute to development of damage in this region.
Bykov
I
I
National Public Health Institute, Dept. of Alcohol Research, Helsinki, Finland.
Ylipaasto
P
P
Eerola
L
L
Lindros
K O
KO
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C440499:lipopolysaccharide, Escherichia coli O111 B4; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015232:Dinoprostone