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Kupffer cells, also known as stellate macrophages and Kupffer–Browicz cells, are specialized cells localized in the liver within the lumen of the liver sinusoids and are adhesive to their endothelial cells which make up the blood vessel walls. Kupffer cells comprise the largest population of tissue-resident in the body. Gut bacteria, bacterial endotoxins, and microbial debris transported to the liver from the gastrointestinal tract via the portal vein will first come in contact with Kupffer cells, the first immune cells in the liver. It is because of this that any change to Kupffer cell functions can be connected to various liver diseases such as alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, intrahepatic cholestasis, steatohepatitis, activation or rejection of the liver during liver transplantation and liver fibrosis. They form part of the mononuclear phagocyte system.
Kupffer cells are amoeboid in character, with surface features including microvilli, pseudopodia and lamellipodia, which project in every direction. The microvilli and pseudopodia play a role in the endocytosis of particles.
The nucleus is indented and ovoid, and can be lobulated.
Notable cytoplasmic elements include , , , and . Kupffer cells also contain rough endoplasmic reticulum, a nuclear envelope, and , all of which demonstrate peroxidase activity.
Importantly, Kupffer cells express the SR-AI/II scavenger receptor. This receptor is involved in recognising and binding the lipid A domain of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid. (LPS is a bacterial endotoxin which is found in the cell wall gram-negative bacteria, whereas lipoteichoic acid is present in gram-positive bacteria.) Because of this detection system, Kupffer cells play a critical role in initiating and mediating immune responses to bacterial infection of the liver.
However, if resident Kupffer cell populations are depleted, monocytes derived from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow transported through blood circulation to the liver can also fully differentiate into true Kupffer cells. Unlike other tissue macrophages, which must be continually renewed by circulating monocytes, these monocyte-derived Kupffer cells are capable of self-renewal once a population is established.
Development of mature Kupffer cells is regulated by numerous growth factors, with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF1) playing a key role. Cytokines involved in type 2 inflammation, such as IL-4, may also stimulate Kupffer cell proliferation. A time frame of 14 to 21 days for complete replenishment of Kupffer cell populations has been demonstrated in animal studies. Despite high monocyte influx and maturation rates, hepatic Kupffer cell populations are tightly maintained. Evidently, there is a high rate of turnover, with the average lifespan of a Kupffer cell estimated at 3.8 days. However, the ultimate fate of Kupffer cells in vivo is not yet fully understood.
The amount of Kupffer cells in the liver is held constant. Kupffer cells have a proliferative capacity, allowing for cell populations to replenish themselves: this is in complete contrast to monocyte-derived macrophages that have no proliferative potential. Old or defective cells are removed through apoptosis, as well as through being phagocytized by neighbouring Kupffer cells.
Kupffer cells are heterogeneous in their function, dependent on their location in the liver lobules. Cells in the periportal zone are directly exposed to bloodflow, and express greater lysosomal activity to more efficiently process incoming foreign substances. In contrast, cells in the centrilobular zone experience less perfusion, and are equipped with greater stores of superoxide to combat deeply-penetrating injuries and infections.
In response to infection or irritation, Kupffer cells can produce inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, , and . Excessive production of these mediators is linked to the development of liver injury.
Apart from phagocytosis bacteria, Kupffer cells are also responsible for recycling hemoglobin by destroying senescence red blood cells through phagocytic action. The globin chains are re-used, while the iron-containing portion, heme, is further broken down into iron, which is re-used, and bilirubin, which is conjugated to glucuronic acid within hepatocytes and secreted into the bile.
Helmy et al. identified a receptor present in Kupffer cells, the complement receptor of the immunoglobulin family (CRIg). Mice without CRIg could not clear complement system-coated pathogens. CRIg is conserved in mice and humans and is a critical component of the innate immune system.
Kupffer cells play a role in the pathogenesis of a damaged liver in response to sepsis. The macrophages in the liver activate and release both IL-1 and TNF-alpha. In turn, this activates leukocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells to express ICAM-1. This results in tissue damage to the endothelium because of proteases, oxygen radicals, and other substances from leukocytes.
Kupffer cell activation contributes to pathogenesis of both chronic and acute alcoholic liver disease in response to ethanol-induced liver injury, common in chronic alcoholics. Chronic alcoholism and liver injury deal with a two-hit system. While the first hit is direct, mediated by the direct toxicity of ethanol and its metabolic byproducts, the second hit is indirect, mediated by increased uptake of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) from the intestine.
Ethanol increases permeability of the intestinal epithelium, resulting in endotoxin produced by the intestinal flora leaking from the intestinal lumen into the liver via the portal vein. The presence of endotoxin induces a strong M1 polarization of Kupffer cells. A large amount of reactive oxygen species, pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are produced by the activated Kupffer cells which lead to liver injury.
The cascade begins with endotoxin-mediated activation of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14, receptors on the Kupffer cell that internalize endotoxin. This in turn activates the transcription of pro-inflammatory and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), with concurrent production of .
Cytokines and superoxides go on to cause inflammation and oxidizing damage respectively, while TNFα triggers the Ito cell in the liver to initiate collagen synthesis. These processes result in fibrosis, or scarring of the liver. Fibrosis will eventually cause cirrhosis, a loss of function of the liver due to extensive scarring.
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