ENHANCED KUPFFER CELL-ACTIVITY AFTER REPEATED HEPATIC ARTERIAL ISCHEMIA IN AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL

Kupffer cells are important for host defence against both foreign inva ders and neoplasia. Several studies have demonstrated that ischaemia a nd reperfusion activates Kupffer cells. The effect of hepatic arterial ischaemia on Kupffer cell function was assessed using blood clearance and organ uptake of radiolabelled Escherichia coli. Transient ischaem ia for 1h did not alter Kupffer cell function in comparison with sham operation. However, prolonging arterial ischaemia for 2h stimulated Ku pffer cell function; both the phagocytic index and liver uptake of E. coli increased significantly (P<0.01). this enhanced Kupffer cell acti vity was achieved each time the ischaemia was induced over a period of 5 days compared with repeated sham procedures (P<0.05). Serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was significantly released after both single and repeated arterial occlusion for 2h (P<0.01). These observations show that transient arterial ischaemia enhances Kupffer cell function and i nduces TNF production. radiolabelled