Pit cells as liver-associated natural killer cells: morphology and function

Nakatani, Kazuki; Kaneda, Kenji; Seki, Shuichi; Nakajima, Yuji

doi:10.1007/s00795-003-0229-9

Cited by 75 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Pit cells are located inside sinusoidal lumina, where they adhere to endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. Morphologic features of pit cells suggest they represent a more mature form of circulating NK cells (Nakatani et al 2004). …”

Section: Nonspecific Cell Killingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune Functioning in Non lymphoid Organs: The Liver

Parker

Picut

2011

Toxicol Pathol

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The liver is the primary hematopoietic organ of the mammalian body during the fetal stage. The postnatal liver retains immunologically important functions and contains a substantial population of immunologically active cells, including T and B lymphocytes, Kupffer cells, liver-adapted natural killer (NK) cells (pit cells), natural killer cells expressing T cell receptor (NKT cells), stellate cells, and dendritic cells. The liver is the major site of production of the acute phase proteins that are associated with acute inflammatory reactions. Kupffer cells have an important role in the nonspecific phagocytosis that comprises a major component of the barrier to invasion of pathogenic organisms from the intestine. Hepatic NK and NKT cells are important in the nonspecific cell killing that is important in resistance to tumor cell invasion. The liver has a major role in deletion of activated T cells and induction of tolerance to ingested and self-antigens. Disposal of waste molecules generated through inflammatory, immunologic, or general homeostatic processes is accomplished via the action of specific endocytic receptors on sinusoidal endothelial cells of the liver. Age-related changes in sinusoids (pseudocapillarization), autophagy, and functions of various hepatic cell populations result in substantial alterations in many of these immunologically important functions.

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Section: Nonspecific Cell Killingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune Functioning in Non lymphoid Organs: The Liver

Parker

Picut

2011

Toxicol Pathol

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“…This hepatic sinusoidal immune system involves the hepatic-specific natural killer cells (NK) (pit cells) [3] , Kupffer cells (KC) (liver-associated macrophages) [4] and hepatic endothelial cells (HEC) [5] , and is proven to play an important role in protecting the liver from invading colon carcinoma cells [6] . The conventional paradigm of CRC liver metastasis is based on a multi-step process characterized by a series of structural, cellular and molecular events, which give the tumour cells the ability to proceed through the many phases of liver metastasis.…”

Section: Colorectal Cancer and The Hepatic Sinusoidal Immune Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The hepatic sinusoidal endothelial lining and colorectal liver metastases

Braet¹,

Nagatsuma²,

Saito³

et al. 2007

WJG

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant disease and the severe nature of cases in men and women who develop colorectal cancer makes this an important socio-economic health issue. Major challenges such as understanding and modeling colorectal cancer pathways rely on our understanding of simple models such as outlined in this paper. We discuss that the development of novel standardized approaches of multidimensional (correlative) biomolecular microscopy methods facilitates the collection of (sub) cellular tissue information in the early onset of colorectal liver metastasis and that this approach will be crucial in designing new effective strategies for CRC treatment. The application of X-ray micro-computed tomography and its potential in correlative imaging of the liver vasculature will be discussed.

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“…Pit cells, morphologically defined as large granular lymphocytes and functionally as liver-associated natural killer cells, are located inside sinusoidal lumina, where they adhere to endothelial cells and Kupffer cells (Nakatani et al, 2004). Pit cells are the major component of the innate immune system in the liver and substantially contribute to hepatic immunity (Paschos et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential gene expression and functional analysis of pit cells from regenerating rat liver

Xu¹,

Xg²,

Cf³

et al. 2011

Genet. Mol. Res.

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ABSTRACT. Hepatic pit cells are a population of large granular lymphocytes that substantially contribute to hepatic immunity. Studies have proven that pit cells have a role in liver regeneration, but the details of the relationship between pit cells and liver regeneration is not clear at present. We subjected rats to a two-third hepatectomy; pit cells with high purity were obtained with Percoll density centrifugation and immunomagnetic bead methods, and the changes in mRNA levels in pit cells from the regenerating liver were monitored up to 168 h using a Rat Genome 230 2.0 Array composed of 25,020 distinct rat liver cDNA clones. Of the 25,020 genes analyzed, 612 known and 358 unknown genes were identified to be associated with liver regeneration. The 612 known genes are classified into up-regulation and down-regulation patterns based on the expression levels; they primarily participate in at least 23 biological activities based on gene ontology analysis. Together with gene function enrichment analysis, cytokines and a growth factor-mediated pathway in pit cells were activated at an early phase of liver regeneration; pit cell proliferation occurred from 24-72 h after liver hepatectomy; the machinery of pit cell differentiation commenced early and came into play late; an immune/inflammatory response was enhanced late. Expression pattern analysis of functionally Gene expression and functional analysis of pit cells in rat classified genes in pit cells can give insights into the relationship between pit cells and liver regeneration.

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Pit cells as liver-associated natural killer cells: morphology and function

Cited by 75 publications

References 66 publications

Immune Functioning in Non lymphoid Organs: The Liver

Immune Functioning in Non lymphoid Organs: The Liver

The hepatic sinusoidal endothelial lining and colorectal liver metastases

Differential gene expression and functional analysis of pit cells from regenerating rat liver

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