Biomaterial Database

Relation between localization and function of rat liver Kupffer cells. 1982

E C Sleyster, and D L Knook

Kupffer cells were found to be distributed over zone 1 (periportal), zone 2 (midzonal), and zone 3 (perivenous) of the rat liver acinus in a ratio of 4:3:2. After pronase digestion of the liver, two purified tractions of Kupffer cells could be obtained by centrifugal elutriation. Liver zone marking with methylene blue prior to cell isolation revealed that one fraction contained Kupffer cells from the periportal area; the other consisted mainly of such cells from the midzonal and perivenous areas. Periportal Kupffer cells were larger and showed higher lysosomal enzyme activities on a per cell basis as compared with midzonal and perivenous Kupffer cells. The immediate uptake of 0.31-micrometer. latex particles during a 2-minute perfusion of the liver was mainly accomplished by periportal Kupffer cells. The higher phagocytic activity of these cells was independent of the direction which latex was flushed through the liver. Seven days after in vivo administration of latex particles, at least 80 per cent of all Kupffer cells contained latex, but again periportal Kupffer cells showed a higher phagocytic activity in that they accumulated a relatively larger number of particles per cell. Latex phagocytosis increased the activity of cathepsin D in all Kupffer cells. Titration with pepstatin revealed that periportal Kupffer cells contained many more cathepsin D molecules than pepstatin revealed that periportal Kupffer cells contained many more cathepsin D molecules than midzonal and perivenous Kupffer cells. Latex particle uptake stimulated an increase in the molecular activity of cathepsin D in periportal cells as well as in the number of cathepsin D molecules in perivenous and midzonal cells. Kupffer cells show a functional heterogeneity that is related to their position in the liver acinus. Kupffer cells with a high endocytic activity, large and heterogeneous lysosomes, and high lysosomal enzyme activities are found in the periportal zone. This zonal heterogeneity can be reduced after phagocytosis of a triggering dose of latex.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007275	Injections, Intravenous	Injections made into a vein for therapeutic or experimental purposes.	Intravenous Injections,Injection, Intravenous,Intravenous Injection
D007728	Kupffer Cells	Specialized phagocytic cells of the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM found on the luminal surface of the hepatic sinusoids. They filter bacteria and small foreign proteins out of the blood and dispose of worn out red blood cells.	Kupffer Cell,Cell, Kupffer,Cells, Kupffer
D007840	Latex	A milky, product excreted from the latex canals of a variety of plant species that contain cauotchouc. Latex is composed of 25-35% caoutchouc, 60-75% water, 2% protein, 2% resin, 1.5% sugar & 1% ash. RUBBER is made by the removal of water from latex.(From Concise Encyclopedia Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3rd ed). Hevein proteins are responsible for LATEX HYPERSENSITIVITY. Latexes are used as inert vehicles to carry antibodies or antigens in LATEX FIXATION TESTS.	Latices,Latice
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008247	Lysosomes	A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed).	Autolysosome,Autolysosomes,Lysosome
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D010477	Perfusion	Treatment process involving the injection of fluid into an organ or tissue.	Perfusions
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D011914	Rats, Inbred BN	An inbred strain of rat that is widely used in a variety of research areas such as the study of ASTHMA; CARCINOGENESIS; AGING; and LEUKEMIA.	Rats, Inbred Brown Norway,Rats, BN,BN Rat,BN Rat, Inbred,BN Rats,BN Rats, Inbred,Inbred BN Rat,Inbred BN Rats,Rat, BN,Rat, Inbred BN
D002402	Cathepsin D	An intracellular proteinase found in a variety of tissue. It has specificity similar to but narrower than that of pepsin A. The enzyme is involved in catabolism of cartilage and connective tissue. EC 3.4.23.5. (Formerly EC 3.4.4.23).