FIGURE 3.

Kupffer cells induce lipid accumulation and monocyte infiltration into the liver. A, C57BL/6 mice fed CT and MCD diets for 10 days were injected twice with control liposomes (CT Lipo.) or clodronate-containing liposomes (clod. Lipo.) at days −2 and +5 of feeding (see schematic). The representative FACS plots (left panels) and cell numbers of monocytes (CD11b^intF4/80^low) and Kupffer cells (CD11b⁺F4/80^hi) (right panel) are shown in CD45⁺NK1.1⁻-gated liver mononuclear cells. The neutrophils (CD11b^hiF4/80⁻) are gated out of the analysis. Representative FACS plots and compiling data of cell numbers show an increase in frequency and cell numbers of monocytes. Data are from 3 independent experiments with a total of n = 6 mice per condition. B, hepatic Tnfa transcript expression was determined by qPCR from whole liver samples of mice fed CT and MCD diets. The RNA level is expressed as fold-induction compared with control diet. Data represent mean ± S.D. *, p < 0.05 and **, p < 0.005 as determined by two-tailed t test.