Hepatocytes secret a mediator pattern that induces macrophage phenotype with properties of wound healing type and regulatory macrophages

Introduction: The liver comprises the body's largest pool of macrophages constituting approximately 80% of all sessile tissue macrophages of the body. Thereby macrophages have a remarkable plasticity since their differentiation and function is continuously adapted to the microenvironment, which among others is defined by direct and indirect intercellular communication including cell-cell contact and paracrine acting mediators. Up to now the complex network that determines the differentiation and function of liver macrophages and the impact of the intercellular communication between macrophages and the other pare…