Recent Advancements in Microbial Diversity: Chapter 17 - Kupffer cells and liver

Macrophages represent a major cell type of innate immunity and have emerged as a critical player and therapeutic target in many chronic inflammatory diseases. Kupffer cells (KCs) constitute 80%−90% of the tissue macrophages present in the body. KCs, the hepatic macrophages, are originated from the fetal yolk sack and infiltrated bone marrow-derived monocytes/macrophages. KCs play a crucial role in maintaining liver homeostasis and pathogenesis of liver injury, making them an attractive therapeutic target for liver diseases. During infections of the liver, KCs may act both as effector cells in the destruction of hepatocytes by producing harmful soluble mediators as well as antigen-presenting cells. Additionally, they may represent a significant source of chemoattractant molecules for regulatory T and cytotoxic CD8 cells. Thus, more research is necessary to better understand the KCs to guide the development of KC-based therapeutic interventions. This chapter abridges the current knowledge on the origins and composition of KCs, their functions in maintaining hepatic homeostasis, and their involvement in both promoting and resolving liver inflammation, injury, and fibrosis.