Hepatocyte apoptosis by death receptors, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis are prominent
features of liver diseases. However, the link between these processes remains unclear. Our
aim was to ascertain whether engulfment of apoptotic bodies by Kupffer cells promotes
hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Isolated murine Kupffer cells efficiently engulfed apoptotic
bodies generated from UV–treated mouse hepatocytes. Engulfment of the apoptotic bodies,
but not latex beads, stimulated Kupffer cell generation of death ligands, including Fas ligand …