Contrasting responses of Kupffer cells and inflammatory mononuclear phagocytes to biliary obstruction in a mouse model of cholestatic liver injury.

Background Biliary obstruction and cholestasis are serious complications of many liver diseases. Although resident hepatic macrophages (Kupffer cells) are frequently implicated in disease progression, most studies fail to differentiate the contribution of Kupffer cells and inflammatory mononuclear phagocytes (iMNPs) that infiltrate the liver subsequent to obstruction. Aim This study was undertaken to examine the roles and potential interactions of these two disparate mononuclear phagocyte populations in hepatic injury attending cholestasis. Methods Female, C57Bl/6 mice were injected with magnetic beads on day 3 prior to sham operation or bile duct ligation (BDL) to facilitate subsequent Kup…