Kupffer Cells

Kupffer Cell

• 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.