Release of leukotriene B4 from rat Kupffer cells

The leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is derived from arachidonic acid via a lipoxigenase pathway and is a potent mediator of inflammation and allergy. In this study, to clarify the relation of leukotrienes to liver injury, we have examined the release of LTB4 from rat Kupffer cells in vitro. Kupffer cell suspensions (5×105 cells/ml) in modified Tyrode's solution incubated with the calcium ionophore A23187. LTB4 is assayed using combined technique of reverse-phase highperformance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. When activated in vitro with the calcium ionophore A23187, Kupffer cells generated LTB4. Thus, our studies indicate that Kupffer cells also could generate LTB4 as well as polymorphonuclear leukocytes or monocytes. In addition, it is suggested that Kupffer cells may be able to modify inflammatory and immunologic events in liver tissue by the release of LTB4.