Role of Kupffer cells, complement, and specific antibody in the bactericidal activities of perfused livers

The relative roles of Kupffer cells, complement, and specific antibody in liver antimicrobial activities were investigated by using a rat liver perfusion model. Normal livers trapped an average of 60% of Salmonella typhimurium in a single pass and in the presence of plasma killed more than 60% of these organisms in 30 min. Livers depleted of Kupffer cell function by silica treatment had significantly less bactericidal ability (ca. 15%) in the presence of plasma, showing that viable (Kupffer cells are required for optimal antimicrobial activity. To determine the importance of complement in Salmonella killing, plasma complement activity was inhibited by heating at 57 and 50°C, zymosan absorption, chelation with disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and depletion of rat C3 by using specific immunoabsorbent. All treatments significantly reduced bactericidal activity in the perfused liver. Chelation of plasma with EDTA had no effect, suggesting that the alternate and not the classical pathway for complement activation was involved. Immune plasma alone was bactericidal. When immune plasma was heated, zymosan absorbed, or chelated with EDTA, bactericidal activity was inhibited in the perfused liver, but bacterial trapping increased. These results suggest that complement is required for bactericidal activity in perfused livers and that specific antibody only enhances bacterial trapping.