Based on the data presented here,

we hypothesize that the macrophage infiltrate following AALF is derived from an early wave of bone marrow–derived circulating monocytes followed by an expansion of the resident proliferating KC population that is implicated in the resolution of inflammation and tissue repair processes. The protein array analysis reveals an inflammatory microenvironment favoring tissue repair processes in AALF at the time of transplantation. In whole liver tissue, levels of IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β1 are elevated in AALF compared with pathological controls, whereas concentrations of proinflammatory mediators BIBW2992 purchase (IL-1β, IL-12, IL-17, TNF-α, interferon-γ) remain similar. Higher concentrations of monocyte chemoattractants (CCL2, CCL3) and immunoregulatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10) are detected in necrotic compared with nonnecrotic areas. These findings concur with data from experimental liver injury models, where CCL2 skews the inflammatory microenvironment to augment levels of

anti-inflammatory/hepatoprotective selleck mediators (IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β1).13, 26, 28 In other inflammatory models, CCL2 induces an IL-10–skewed cytokine profile in murine polymicrobial sepsis and contributes to the recruitment of IL-10–producing, monocyte-derived macrophages during experimental colitis.41-44 Therefore, our data demonstrating increased expression of CCR2 on CD14+CD16+ circulating monocytes may indicate that CCL2 possesses immunoregulatory capabilities in AALF through recruitment of different circulating monocyte subsets.45 Further studies evaluating monocyte subsets at different stages of liver injury are required to address this question. Our data indicate that h-mϕ represent the predominant selleckchem cell population in the inflamed AALF liver and are avidly

proliferating within areas of necrosis, a finding that is associated with hepatic regenerative responses in experimental liver models.7 They express markers associated with enhanced scavenger functions (CD68+HLA-DR+),46-48 preferentially expressed at the resolution stages of experimental liver injury,12, 28 and contain phagocytosed cellular and extracellular debris. Akin to other inflammatory conditions, phagocytosis may be the microenvironmental switch that triggers h-mϕ to secrete immunoregulatory mediators (CCL2, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10) that are present at higher concentrations within areas of hepatic necrosis.49-51 Equally, the proportion of h-mϕ not expressing HLA-DR in central areas of necrosis could indicate that they are functionally modulated by their microenvironment. Functional and phenotypic analyses of freshly isolated h-mϕ are warranted to explore these observations. These findings also pose further questions as to whether these intra-hepatic events impact on circulating monocyte phenotype and function.