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Interactions between rat colon carcinoma cells and Kupffer cells during the onset of hepatic metastasis
Author(s) -
Timmers Maarten,
Vekemans Katrien,
Vermijlen David,
Asosingh Kewal,
Kuppen Peter,
Bouwens Luc,
Wisse Eddie,
Braet Filip
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.20481
Subject(s) - metastasis , phagocytosis , pathology , biology , carcinoma , cancer cell , kupffer cell , natural killer cell , cancer research , cancer , medicine , immunology , cytotoxicity , in vitro , biochemistry , genetics
Liver sinusoids harbor populations of 2 important types of immunocompetent cells, Kupffer cells (KCs) and natural killer (NK) cells, which are thought to play an important role in controlling hepatic metastasis in the first 24 hr upon arrival of the tumor cells in the liver. We studied the early interaction of KCs, NK and CC531s colon carcinoma cells in a syngeneic rat model by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results showed a minority of KCs (19% periportal and 7% pericentral) involved in the interaction with 94% of tumor cells and effecting the phagocytosis of 92% of them. NK cell depletion decreased the phagocytosis of tumor cells by KCs by 33% over a period of 24 hr, leaving 35% of the cancer cells free, as compared to 6% in NK‐positive rats. Surviving cancer cells were primarily located close to the Glisson capsule, suggesting that metastasis would initiate from this region. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.