Kupffer Cells




 * specialized stellate macrophages
 * adhere to the sinusoidal endothelium ( in the lumen of the sinusoid), mainly near portal areas (=portal triads)
 * clear the blood of ingested bacterial pathogens that may enter portal blood from the gut
 * remove aged erythrocytes and free heme for re-use
 * act as antigen-presenting cells in adaptive immunity
 * secret cytokines and chemokines that recruit and expand the population of other proinflammatory cells in the liver.