Kupffer cell immune functions in hepatic schistosomiasis

ABSTRACT

To study Kupffer cell phagocytosis in relation to immune complex clearance in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, the present work included 30 schistosomal patients classified into three groups. The first group included patients with early hepatic affection, the second included those with late affection, and the third one comprised patients with late hepatic affection associated with nephropathy. The present study showed that Kupffer cells seem to play an important role in immune complexes' clearance during the course of hepatic schistosomiasis. If Kupffer cells' clearance mechanisms are overwhelmed, immune complexes circulate in the blood with increased liability for deposition in different organs causing immune complex mediated diseases such as schistosomal nephropathy