Investigation of the effects of long – term luteinising hormone synthesis inhibition on the liver macrophage population

Abstract

Kupffer cells are the resident macrophages of the liver and play an essential role in its normal physiology and homeostasis, as well as are involved in the acute and chronic response of the liver to toxic compounds. At this stage, researchers believe that macrophage polarisation may play a key role in the development of liver diseases such as steatosis, hepatitis, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as in the regeneration processes of hepatocytes. Testosterone has a significant influence on the functional state of macrophages in the body. Under the control of testosterone, macrophage polarisation in the direction of the pro-inflammatory phenotype (M1) is suppressed, resulting in a reduced production of cytokines such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The role of macrophage-expressed inducible NO-synthase (iNOS) is critical to the balance between M1 and M2 subtypes, as iNOS regulates the expression of signature genes in M1 macrophages and regulates the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.