Kupffer cell
Hepatic immune sentinel
A Kupffer cell is a specialized immune cell found in the liver, lining the walls of blood vessels called sinusoids.
These cells are macrophages—they engulf and destroy bacteria, dead cells, and other debris filtered from the blood passing through the liver.
Named for the German anatomist Karl Wilhelm von Kupffer, who first described them in 1876.
immune
Cellular ingestion of particles
- innate immunityInherited pathogen defense system
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- toll-like receptorsInnate immune pattern sensors
- pattern recognitionIdentifying regularities in inputs
macrophage
Cell that engulfs invaders
- engulfmentComplete surrounding and absorption
- chemotaxisMovement toward chemical cues
hepatic
Vessel feeding liver from gut
- zone 2Transit pricing band
- endotheliumCells lining blood vessels
- fenestrationsOpenings in structures
pathology
Irreversible hepatic scarring
- hepatitisInflammatory liver condition
- fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup
- liver inflammationHepatic swelling condition
phagocytosis
Cellular ingestion of particles
- innate immunityInherited pathogen defense system
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- toll-like receptorsInnate immune pattern sensors
phagocyte
Cell that engulfs invaders
- engulfmentComplete surrounding and absorption
- chemotaxisMovement toward chemical cues
portal vein
Vessel feeding liver from gut
- zone 2Transit pricing band
- endotheliumCells lining blood vessels
- fenestrationsOpenings in structures
cirrhosis
Irreversible hepatic scarring
- hepatitisInflammatory liver condition
- fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup
- liver inflammationHepatic swelling condition
drug metabolism
Body's chemical processing of medications
- debris removalClearing scattered remains
- cellscells, blood cells, nerve cells, brain cells, mitosis
- liverliver, hepatic, bile, cirrhosis, hepatitis
- liver anatomyliver, left lobe, lobule, hepatocyte, sinusoid
- liver cellshepatocyte
- blood cellsred blood cells, white blood cells, red cells, white cells, erythrocyte
- amoebasamoeba, brain-eating amoeba, Chaos, pseudopod