Lipid composition of Kupffer cells

Abstract

The St. George procedure was modified to permit the isolation of large quantities of viable, highly purified Kupffer cells and parenchymal cells. Phagocytic cells were isolated from normal dogs and rats by magnetic means following the acute injection of 3-micron spherical iron particles. The phospholipid, total, free and ester cholesterol and total lipids were determined in Kupffer and parenchymal cells. In contrast to the noniron-containing or parenchymal cells, the Kupffer cells of both the dog and rat were characterized by an elevated cholesterol concentration. This difference in cholesterol concentration is due to elevation in both the free and ester fractions. However, the ratio between free, ester and total cholesterol was identical in both the RE cell and the parenchymal cell. These findings suggest a specialized role of reticuloendothelial cells in cholesterol metabolism.