Antigen-presenting function and B7 expression of murine sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells.

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inflammatory liver disease as well as rejection of liver allografts are thought to be mediated by resident antigen- presenting cells in the liver. At the same time, in vivo antigen presentation in the liver appears to be a more tolerogenic than systemic antigen challenge. The aim of this study was to show and characterize the antigen-presenting capability of sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. METHODS: Purified murine sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells were studied for their ability to serve as accessory cells and antigen-presenting cells by proliferation assays. They were also studied for their expression of interleukin 1 and the B7 costi…