Immunophenotypic analysis of the distribution of hepatic macrophages, lymphocytes and hepatic stellate cells in the adult rat liver

Abstract

The liver consists of parenchymal hepatocytes and non‐parenchymal cells. Non‐parenchymal cells, Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells and cholangiocytes have crucial roles in liver homeostasis and liver pathology. To establish baseline data, this study investigated immunohistochemically the distribution of non‐parenchymal cells in perivenular areas (PV), periportal areas (PP) and Glisson's sheath (GS) of adult rat liver. Liver tissues were collected from the left lateral lobe of rats. CD163‐positive macrophages were seen along the sinusoid of PV and PP areas, indicating Kupffer cells. Double immunofluorescence showed, Kupffer cells partly co‐expressed CD68 and MHC class II antigens in the liver. The numbers of Kupffer cells were significantly high in PP areas as compared with PV or GS areas. CD68‐positive exudative macrophages were highly localized in PP and GS areas and a comparatively low PV area. MHC class II‐positive dendritic cells (activated macrophages) were localized mainly in GS. Granzyme B‐positive NK cells were mainly localized in the Glisson's sheath. CD3‐positive T cells and CD20‐positive B cells were distributed along the sinusoids of the PP and PV areas of hepatic lobules. Vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐positive hepatic stellate cells were localized along sinusoids in the hepatic lobules of the liver. Cholangiocytes reacting to cytokeratin 19 were seen on interlobular bile ducts in Glisson's sheath of the liver. This study shows that heterogeneous macrophage populations, liver‐resident lymphocytes and hepatic stellate cells localized in PP and PV areas or GS areas of the liver with cells specific patterns.

Hepatic Macrophage Abundance and Phenotype in Aging and Liver Iron Accumulation

“…With respect to macrophage markers, the results of this investigation are consistent with previous observations showing an increase in M1 and M2 macrophage markers with aging [ 15 ]. However, it should be noted that while some investigators have used CD68 as an M1 marker [ 8 , 26 ], others consider it a more general marker of tissue macrophages [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Interestingly, CD206 + cells did not change with aging.…”

Grifola frondosa polysaccharide Ameliorates Inflammation and Insulin Resistance by Regulating Macrophage Polarization of liver in Type 2 diabetes mellitus Rats

“…Finally, the image was collected by microscope. Macrophage counting was performed by reference method (Pervin M et al, 2021), and five areas were randomly selected from the central vein, portal vein, periportal, perivenular, or Glisson’s sheath of the liver, and cells expressing CD68 with clear nuclei were counted.…”