HEPATIC MACROPHAGES AND VIRUSES

Kupffer cells are located at strategic positions in the liver sinusoid s. They are involved in the clearance of about 90% of foreign particle s namely viruses and play an important role in the pathogenesis since their interaction with viruses represents a major determinant of virem ia. On the one hand, they may protect the host from the infection by t aking up and degrading the viral particles as well as by presenting an tigen to lymphocytes, on the other hand, they may enhance the infectio n by producing and disseminating viruses when they are permissive. Whe n they are activated or when they produce interferon a, Kupffer cells exert an antiviral effect on adjacent cells. Moreover they participate to the inflammatory response by synthesizing numerous mediators. Thei r destruction as well as the alteration of their functional properties may have serious physiopathological consequences.