ObjectiveTo Analyze the relationship between Kupffer cells (KCs) and ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) during liver transplantation.MethodThe relevant studies in recent years on the KCs in the hepatic IRI during the liver transplantation were collected and summarized.ResultsSome recent studies had shown that both the congenital immunity and adaptive immunity were closely related to the occurrence and development of hepatic IRI and the activation of KCs. The KCs were the resident macrophage of the liver and played the key role in the aseptic inflammatory injury. The KCs could secrete various pro-inflammatory factors to aggravate the liver cell injury. On the other hand, the KCs could also improve the hepatic IRI by upregulating anti-inflammatory factors.ConclusionsHepatic IRI can activate the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system to cause the sterile inflammatory response of damaged liver cells. During hepatic IRI, the activated KCs can secrete pro-inflammatory factors and anti-inflammatory factors to play the dual roles of injury and protection.