摘要
Kupffer cells(KCs)are the resident macrophages of the liver with similar origins to myeloid-derived macrophages.Once differentiated,KCs exhibit distinct cellular machinery capable of longevity and self-renewal,making them a crucial player in promoting effective intrahepatic communication.However,this gets compromised in disease states like Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis(NASH),where the loss of embryo-derived KCs(EmKCs)is observed.Despite this,other KC-like and KC-derived populations start to form and contribute to a variety of roles in NASH pathogenesis,often adopting a NASH-associated molecular signature.Here we offer a brief overview of recent reports describing KC polarization and reprogramming in the liver.We describe the complexities of KC cellular identity,their proposed ability to reprogram to fibroblast-like and endothelial-like cells,and the potential implications in NASH.
