Question

Kupffer cells occur in.
a. Spleen
b. Kidney
c. Brain
d. liver

Answer 1

Hint: Kupffer cells are also called the stellate macrophages, Kupffer–Borowicz cells. They are a part of the mononuclear phagocytic system. One function of these cells is to capture old RBCs and will deliver the remaining RBC components to the hepatocytes.

Complete answer
Kupffer cells are specialised macrophages that are present in the liver, coating the sinusoid wall. To be precise, the location of Kupffer cells is in the liver and it functions as a macrophage.

Additional information
- Macrophages are the large, specialized phagocytes that have the ability to recognize, engulf, and destroy the target cells.
- Macrophages are basically formed by the differentiation of monocytes (a type of WBCs) as a response to tissue damage or infection.
- There are many factors by which macrophages can be categorized, one among is through the location or the state at which they arise. They are:
- Resident macrophages, which are specific for different tissues.
- Macrophages that are differentiated from monocytes in response to inflammatory stimuli.
- Kupffer cell is a type of liver resident Macrophage. Kupffer cells are the largest population of mononuclear phagocytes present in the human body.
- They play a very important role in liver hemostasis and secretion of a large number of immune regulation mediators which provide protective immunity.
- Development, differentiation, maturation of Kupffer cells

Primitive macrophages (which develop in murine and human yolk sac)
   

(differentiation)
 fetal macrophages (high proliferative capacity)
                              

Enter bloodstream and migrate into fetal liver

           

(With progress of gestation)

 Mature and transform into Kupffer cells which then resides in the liver

So the correct answer is “Liver”.

Note: The function of Kupffer cells is to maintain the normal physiology of the liver, Hemostasis, they participate in acute, chronic response against toxins in the liver. Additionally, Kupffer cells play an important role in host defence mechanism and innate immune response by releasing a considerable number of mediators and activators upon activation.