Cells of Liver

There are several cells of liver.

Hepatocyte

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hepatocyte in HE

Hepatocytes make up about 80% of the cells in the liver.

• are large polyhedral epithelial cells, with large round centrally located nuclei (2 or more)
• grouped in interconnected plates that are arranged into thousand of small polyhedral lobules
• store glucose in the form of glycogen , also vitamin B12, folic acid and iron
• participate in the turnover and transport of lipids.
• synthesize some of the plasma proteins (albumin, α and β globulins, prothrombin, fibrinogen
• metabolize/detoxify fat
• participate in the turnover of steroid hormones.
• regulates cholesterol level
• secrete bile (up to 1 liter per day)

ITO Cells

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Schematic representation of the structure of the liver lobule. It's cells are labeled as "stellate cells".

Ito cells (stellate cells) are cells of mesenchymal origin located in the perisinusoidal space of the liver lobules. Their cytoplasm contains large lipid droplets used to store vitamin A. Under certain pathological circumstances, e.g. after injury, alcohol damage or infection, Ito cells can differentiate into myofibroblast-like cells and synthesize excessive amounts of extracellular matrix, especially collagen type I and III. Thereby they cause fibrotization of the liver. Ito cells are also significantly involved in liver regeneration. </noinclude>

Links

Related Articles

• Liver
• Liver Fibrosis
• Liver Regeneration

Liver as a histological preparation:

• Collection of histological specimens (1. LF UK)/Digestive system
• Liver (SFLT)

References

• LÜLLMANN-RAUCH, Renate. Histologie. 1. edition. Praha : Grada, 2012. 576 pp. ISBN 978-80-247-3729-4.

• MESCHER, Anthony L – JUNQUEIRA, Luiz Carlos Uchôa. Junqueira's Basic Histology. 12. edition. United States : McGraw-Hill Education - Europe, 2009. 480 pp. ISBN 9780071630207.

• VÁLEK, Vlastimil – KALA, Zdeněk, et al. Maligní ložiskové procesy jater :  diagnostika a léčba včetně minimálně invazivních metod. 1. edition. Praha : Grada, 2006. ISBN 80-247-0961-9.

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Kupffer Cells

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• specialized stellate macrophages
• adhere to the sinusoidal endothelium ( in the lumen of the sinusoid), mainly near portal areas (=portal triads)
• clear the blood of ingested bacterial pathogens that may enter portal blood from the gut
• remove aged erythrocytes and free heme for re-use
• act as antigen-presenting cells in adaptive immunity
• secret cytokines and chemokines that recruit and expand the population of other proinflammatory cells in the liver.