The protective role of Kupffer cells in the XXXX -reperfused @entity35 liver.

@entity4749 @entity63 @entity648 @entity22456 @entity35 @entity19160 @entity1446
Kupffer cells constitute a major source of the @entity1446 -degrading enzyme, @entity1446 oxygenase (HO). This study examined the roles of Kupffer cells in the modulation of accelerated @entity1446 catabolism in @entity63 -reperfused @entity35 livers. Livers from @entity35 treated with or without liposome-encapsulated @entity19160 , a Kupffer cell-depleting reagent, underwent a 20-min ligation of the portal vein followed by reperfusion, The time course of the biliary output of @entity648 , the terminal @entity1446 -degrading product, and the expression of @entity22456 mRNA and protein were monitored. @entity22456 mRNA levels were elevated 3 to 12 h after @entity63 /reperfusion in both control and Kupffer cell-depleted @entity35 . Immunohistochemical analyses of control livers revealed that Kupffer cells expressed high levels of @entity22456 while its expression in hepatocytes was low. In Kupffer cell-depleted livers, however, periportal hepatocytes displayed marked @entity22456 expression. Under these conditions the two groups exhibited distinct profiles of biliary @entity648 excretion. In the controls, total @entity648 excretion increased 8-fold and peaked at 10 h after @entity63 /reperfusion. In contrast, the Kupffer cell-depleting treatment resulted in a significant acceleration of the initial rise in @entity648 production, which peaked at 4 h. However, the total amount of @entity648 excreted within the initial 10 h after reperfusion was reduced by 50% as compared with that of the controls. In Kupffer cell-depleted @entity35 , the levels of GOT and @entity4749 as well as serum endotoxin concentrations were elevated after @entity63 /reperfusion. These results suggest that Kupffer cells serve as an @entity63 /reperfusion sensor that upregulates @entity1446 degradation and @entity648 excretion, and that Kupffer cells protect hepatocytes from gut-derived stressers--including endotoxin--following @entity63 /reperfusion.
