Kupffer cells, the limelight in the liver regeneration
Yang Zhao, Shizhen Zhao, Shiwei Liu, Wenling Ye, Weidong Chen
Abstract
• Kupffer cells secrete multiple inflammatory factors and actively participate in the process of liver regeneration. • Kupfer cells and other non-parenchymal cells undergo replenishment and restoration during liver regeneration. • The Kupffer cell pool is replenished by combining proliferation and infiltration mechanisms in liver regeneration. • Multiple factors contribute to maintaining the homeostasis of the Kupffer cell pool during liver regeneration. Kupffer cells are pivotal in initiating hepatocyte proliferation and establishing connections between different cell types during liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy. As resident macrophages within the liver, Kupffer cells collaborate with hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells to release various inflammatory mediators that promote hepatocyte proliferation through induction signals like STAT3 phosphorylation. Additionally, the regeneration and replenishment of Kupffer cells themselves are integral components of liver regeneration. The supplementation of the Kupffer cell pool primarily occurs through two pathways: one involves local proliferation of Kupffer cells in their original location, while the other entails infiltration of circulating monocytes into the liver, followed by acquiring Kupffer cell phenotypes under the combined influence of multiple inducing factors. Extensive research has focused on intercellular crosstalk among various types of liver cells during liver regeneration, highlighting the crucial role played by Kupffer cells. This article aims to introduce Kupffer cells and their involvement in liver regeneration, as well as discuss the steady-state balance of Kupffer cell pools during this process.