Kupffer cells influence parenchymal invasion and phenotypic orientation, but not the proliferation, of liver progenitor cells in a murine model of liver injury.

ABSTRACT: Activation of myofibroblasts (MF) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition predispose the expansion and differentiation of liver progenitor cells (LPC) during chronic liver injury. Because Kupffer cells (KC) are active modulators of tissue response and fibrosis, we analyzed their role in a model of LPC proliferation. A choline-deficient diet, supplemented by ethionine (CDE) was administrated to C57Bl/6J mice that were depleted of KC by repeated injections of clodronate (CLO) and compared to PBS-injected mice. On CDE, massive KC activation was observed in the PBS group, but this was blunted in CLO-treated mice. The depletion of KC did not influence LPC proliferation but reduced their invasive behavior. Instead of being found far into the parenchyma, as was found in the PBS group (mean dist

SUBMITTER: Van Hul N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3181378 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature