Roles of CCR2 and CCR5 for Hepatic Macrophage Polarization in Mice With Liver Parenchymal Cell-Specific NEMO Deletion

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Macrophages are key regulators of inflammation and cancer promotion in the liver, and their recruitment and activation is linked to chemokine receptor signaling. However, the exact roles of the chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR5 for macrophage functions in the liver is obscure. METHODS: mice develop hepatitis and fibrosis after two and liver tumors after six months. RESULTS: immature monocytes or B cells did not reduce liver injury. CONCLUSIONS: mice. While CCR2 controls the recruitment of monocytes to injured livers, CCR5-dependent functions of liver macrophages limit hepatic injury, thereby reducing steatosis and hepatocarcinogenesis.