Effect of tuftsin on human Kupffer cell

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Kupffer cells are the most important category of reticuloe ndothelial cells which are critical for host defense in the liver. We inves tigated the effects of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) on human Kupffer cells. METHODOLOGY: Human Kupffer cells were obtained from the livers of patients with colon cancer. Phagocytosis assay was done by microscopic counting of t he number of Kupffer cells that engulfed fluorescent particle(s), and the n umber of the particles engulfed per Kupffer cell when Kupffer cells were in cubated with and without tuftsin. Effect of tuftsin on the release of tumor necrosis factor from Kupffer cells was also studied. RESULTS: Phagocytosis was enhanced significantly by tuftsin. The greatest e ffect on percentage of phagocytic cells was observed at 1.0 mu g/ml of tuft sin. The mean number of particles engulfed per Kupffer cell was also increa sed with tuftsin 1.0 mu g/ml. Tumor necrosis factor release was also signif icantly increased; the greatest effect was observed at 1.0 mu g/ml of tufts in. CONCLUSIONS: Tuftsin enhances phagocytic activity and tumor necrosis factor release of human Kupffer cells, which are advantageous for host defense ag ainst invading microorganisms and tumor cells.