Kupffer-cell depletion in chronic liver disease: implications for hepatic carcinogenesis.

It is suggested that the increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma complicating cirrhosis may be related to the lobular and nodular depletion of liver macrophages. The occurrence of other hepatic tumours can also be related to the anatomical distribution of these macrophages within the liver. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the liver macrophage (Kupffer cell) may play an important role in tumour surveillance.