Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells.

The liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) forms the fenestrated wall of the hepatic sinusoid and functions as a control post regulating and surveying the trafficking of molecules and cells between the liver parenchyma and the blood. The cell acts as a scavenger cell responsible for removal of potential dangerous macromolecules from blood, and is increasingly acknowledged as an important player in liver immunity. This review provides an update of the major functions of the LSEC, including its role in plasma ultrafiltration and regulation of the hepatic microcirculation, scavenger functions, immune functions, and role in liver aging, as well as issues that are either undercommunicated or confusingly dealt with in the literature.

Acute atorvastatin is hepatoprotective against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in mice by modulating eNOS and microparticle formation.

Background & Aims: Steatosis accentuates the severity of hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI); 'statins' (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) protect the heart and brain against post-ischaemic injury. We tested whether short-term administration of atorvastatin protects fatty livers in obese mice against IRI.

Methods: Mice with dietary or genetic simple steatosis (SS) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were subjected to 60 min partial hepatic ischaemia/24 h reperfusion.

Hepatocyte free cholesterol lipotoxicity results from JNK1-mediated mitochondrial injury and is HMGB1 and TLR4-dependent.

Background & Aims: Free cholesterol (FC) accumulates in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) but not in simple steatosis. We sought to establish how FC causes hepatocyte injury.

Methods: In NASH-affected livers from diabetic mice, subcellular FC distribution (filipin fluorescence) was established by subcellular marker co-localization.

Hepatic disposal of advanced glycation end products during maturation and aging.

Unlabelled: Aging is characterized by progressive loss of metabolic and biochemical functions and accumulation of metabolic by-products, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are observed in several pathological conditions. A number of waste macromolecules, including AGEs are taken up from the circulation by endocytosis mainly into liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and Kupffer cells (KCs). However, AGEs still accumulate in different tissues with aging, despite the presence of this clearance mechanism.

Effects of oxidized low-density lipoproteins on the hepatic microvasculature.

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) are involved in proinflammatory and cytotoxic events in different microcirculatory systems. The liver is an important scavenger organ for circulating oxLDLs. However, the interaction of oxLDL with the hepatic microcirculation has been poorly investigated.