Journal
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 9, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00044
Keywords
efferocytosis; phagocytosis; liver; hepatocytes; regeneration; apoptosis; necrosis; cell death
Categories
Funding
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Birmingham, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Birmingham Liver Biomedical Research Unit, University of Birmingham, UK
- Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
- Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund
- MRC Confidence in Concept award
- Medical Research Council [1367611] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Toxic substances and microbial or food-derived antigens continuously challenge the liver, which is tasked with their safe neutralization. This vital organ is also important for the removal of apoptotic immune cells during inflammation and has been previously described as a graveyard for dying lymphocytes. The clearance of apoptotic and necrotic cells is known as efferocytosis and is a critical liver function to maintain tissue homeostasis. Much of the research into this form of immunological control has focused on Kupffer cells, the liver-resident macrophages. However, hepatocytes (and other liver resident cells) are competent efferocytes and comprise 80% of the liver mass. Little is known regarding the mechanisms of apoptotic and necrotic cell capture by epithelia, which lack key receptors that mediate phagocytosis in macrophages. Herein, we discuss recent developments that increased our understanding of efferocytosis in tissues, with a special focus on the liver parenchyma. We discuss the impact of efferocytosis in health and in inflammation, highlighting the role of phagocytic epithelia.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available