Posttraumatic activation of macrophages enhances development of systemic inflammation/immunosuppression and organ dysfunction. We hypothesized that Kupffer cells are the main source of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production after trauma-hemorrhage, that administration of 17beta-estradiol (E2) after trauma-hemorrhage modulates MCP-1 release and reduces remote organ damage, and that salutary effects of E2 are mediated via estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha. To test these hypotheses, female B57BL/J6 mice received E2 (50 microg/25 g) or vehicle after trauma-hemorrhage and female 129 Sve ER-beta-/- transgenic mice and ovariectomized wild-type mice received E2 or ER-alpha agonist propyl pyrazole triol (50 microg/25 g) after trauma-hemorrhage. Systemic MCP-1 and interleukin-6 and their release by liver, spleen, and lung macrophages were determined by flow cytometry 4 hours after trauma-hemorrhage. Prior Kupffer cell depletion with gadolinium chloride significantly decreased systemic MCP-1 and interleukin-6 after trauma-hemorrhage and was associated with decreased edema/neutrophil infiltration in lung and liver. Kupffer cells were the only macrophages showing significant MCP-1 release, which was markedly reduced by E2 or propyl pyrazole triol in wild-type and in ER-beta-/- mice. Pretreatment of mice with anti-MCP-1 antiserum prevented an increase in myeloperoxidase and edema in lung and liver. These findings suggest that Kupffer cell-derived MCP-1 plays a major role in remote organ dysfunction after trauma-hemorrhage.