Editing Kupffer cell (section)

{{Short description|Macrophages located in the liver}}
{{Infobox cell
| Name        = Kupffer cell
| Latin       = macrophagocytus stellatus
| Image       = Interaction_between_Kupffer_cells,_Stellate_cells_and_endothelial_cells.jpg
| Caption     = [[Confocal microscopy]] picture showing the steady-state location and interactions between '''Kupffer cells''' (Red), '''hepatic stellate cells''' (green) and '''liver sinusoidal endothelial cells''' (blue). Cell nuclei are in grey.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bonnardel J, T'Jonck W, Gaublomme D, Browaeys R, Scott CL, Martens L, Vanneste B, De Prijck S, Nedospasov SA, Kremer A, Van Hamme E, Borghgraef P, Toussaint W, De Bleser P, Mannaerts I, Beschin A, van Grunsven LA, Lambrecht BN, Taghon T, Lippens S, Elewaut D, Saeys Y, Guilliams M | display-authors = 6 | title = Stellate Cells, Hepatocytes, and Endothelial Cells Imprint the Kupffer Cell Identity on Monocytes Colonizing the Liver Macrophage Niche | journal = Immunity | volume = 51 | issue = 4 | pages = 638–654.e9 | date = October 2019 | pmid = 31561945 | pmc = 6876284 | doi = 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.08.017 }}</ref>
| Image2      = Hepatic structure2.svg
| Caption2    = Basic liver structure
| Precursor   =
| System      =
| Function = [[Macrophage]]
| Location = [[Liver]] 
}}
'''Kupffer cells''', also known as '''stellate macrophages''' and '''Kupffer–Browicz cells''', are specialized cells localized in the [[liver]] within the lumen of the liver sinusoids and are adhesive to their endothelial cells which make up the blood vessel walls. Kupffer cells comprise the largest population of tissue-resident [[macrophage]]s in the body. Gut bacteria,  bacterial endotoxins, and microbial debris transported to the liver from the [[gastrointestinal tract]] via the [[portal vein]] will first come in contact with Kupffer cells, the first immune cells in the liver. It is because of this that any change to Kupffer cell functions can be connected to various liver diseases such as alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, intrahepatic cholestasis, steatohepatitis, activation or rejection of the liver during liver transplantation and liver fibrosis.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Nguyen-Lefebvre|first1=Anh Thu|last2=Horuzsko|first2=Anatolij|date=2015|title=Kupffer Cell Metabolism and Function|journal=Journal of Enzymology and Metabolism|volume=1|issue=1|pmc=4771376|pmid=26937490}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Dixon|first1=Laura J.|last2=Barnes|first2=Mark|last3=Tang|first3=Hui|last4=Pritchard|first4=Michele T.|last5=Nagy|first5=Laura E.|date=April 2013|title=Kupffer Cells in the Liver|journal=Comprehensive Physiology|volume=3|issue=2|pages=785–797|doi=10.1002/cphy.c120026|issn=2040-4603|pmc=4748178|pmid=23720329}}</ref> They form part of the [[mononuclear phagocyte system]].