Repopulation of Kupffer Cells in Rat Livers: Effects of Different Pre-Treatments of the Recipient

Aims: Kupffer cells (KC), which are derived from monocyte/macrophage cell lineage, are the resident macrophages of the liver yet comprise only about 1–2% of the liver. However, they represent about 80% of the total fixed macrophage population. They play a major role in the pathogenesis of several disease states such as endotoxin shock, alcoholic liver disease and other toxicant-induced liver injury, especially in the early stages. KC release physiologically active substances such as eicosanoids, inflammatory cytokines and many free radical species that could lead to localized tissue injury. An early report has s…