Monocyte subsets in human liver disease show distinct phenotypic and functional characteristics

Abstract

Intermediate CD14++CD16+ monocytes preferentially accumulate in chronically inflamed human liver as a consequence of enhanced recruitment from blood and local differentiation from classical CD14++CD16- monocytes. Their phagocytic potential and ability to secrete inflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines suggests they play an important role in hepatic fibrogenesis.