Distinct hepatic macrophages are required for tissue repair!
Diseased liver contains lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) alongside resident Kupffer cells (KCs) but its role remains elusive.
The researchers found that found that this phenotype is not specific to recruited macrophages, as a subset of resident KCs can also adopt a LAM-like phenotype in the mouse and human liver. The researchers also show that both types of macrophages play crucial roles in tissue repair.
The authors also reveal that TREM2 expression on at least one of these is necessary to clear damaged cells, mediating tissue repair.
https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(25)00002-0
