HistoryThis section has been translated automatically.
Carl von Kupffer (1829-1902 [Antwerpes 2021]) was the first to describe the Kupffer stellate cells named after him in 1876 (Deutsches Ärzteblatt 2014) (Götze 2022).
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Kupffer star cells are part of the innate, cell-mediated immune defense, which serve to eliminate harmful particles (Götze 2022).
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General informationThis section has been translated automatically.
Kupffer stellate cells represent approx. 80-90 % of the population of tissue macrophages (Götze 2022). Liver tissue consists of approx. 12 million Kupffer stellate cells per gram (Rohen 2000).
They serve both bacterial defense and the elimination of harmful particles. However, they can also contribute to the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by maintaining chronic inflammation (Götze 2022).
Dieter Häussinger et al. showed in 2014 that Kupffer stellate cells are involved in the restoration of liver tissue after transplantation in the recipient (Deutsches Ärzteblatt 2014).
PathophysiologyThis section has been translated automatically.
Kupffer stellate cells differentiate from monocytes (Antwerpes 2021).
LocalizationThis section has been translated automatically.
Kupffer stellate cells are localized in the sinusoids of the liver (Götze 2022). They can proliferate, for example, in the context of viral hepatitis (Herold 2025).
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Antwerpes et al (2021) Kupffer cell. DocCheck Flexicon. Doi: https://flexikon.doccheck.com/en/Kupffer-cell
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt (2014) Star cells give liver regenerative capacity. Doi: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/sternzellen-verleihen-leber-regenerationsfaehigkeit-045fd824-2e4a-4aad-a160-b42b024f1557
- Götze J (2022) Transmission of endoplasmic reticulum stress - characterization of the effect on Kupffer cells and strategies to identify transmitted factors . Inaugural dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Medicine of the Medical Faculty of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
- Herold G et al. (2025) Internal Medicine. Herold Publishing House 520
- Kasper D L, Fauci A S, Hauser S L, Longo D L, Jameson J L, Loscalzo J et al. (2015) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. Mc Graw Hill Education
- Rohen J W, Lütjen-Drecoll E (2000) Functional Histology: Concise Textbook of Human Cytology, Histology and Microscopic Anatomy from a Functional Point of View. Schattauer Publishers Stuttgart / New York 299
