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- Title
Macrophage polarization in pathology.
- Authors
Sica, Antonio; Erreni, Marco; Allavena, Paola; Porta, Chiara
- Abstract
Macrophages are cells of the innate immunity constituting the mononuclear phagocyte system and endowed with remarkable different roles essential for defense mechanisms, development of tissues, and homeostasis. They derive from hematopoietic precursors and since the early steps of fetal life populate peripheral tissues, a process continuing throughout adult life. Although present essentially in every organ/tissue, macrophages are more abundant in the gastro-intestinal tract, liver, spleen, upper airways, and brain. They have phagocytic and bactericidal activity and produce inflammatory cytokines that are important to drive adaptive immune responses. Macrophage functions are settled in response to microenvironmental signals, which drive the acquisition of polarized programs, whose extremes are simplified in the M1 and M2 dichotomy. Functional skewing of monocyte/macrophage polarization occurs in physiological conditions (e.g., ontogenesis and pregnancy), as well as in pathology (allergic and chronic inflammation, tissue repair, infection, and cancer) and is now considered a key determinant of disease development and/or regression. Here, we will review evidence supporting a dynamic skewing of macrophage functions in disease, which may provide a basis for macrophage-centered therapeutic strategies.
- Subjects
MACROPHAGES; NATURAL immunity; DEFENSE reaction (Physiology); HOMEOSTASIS; HEMATOPOIETIC stem cells; BACTERICIDAL action
- Publication
Cellular & Molecular Life Sciences, 2015, Vol 72, Issue 21, p4111
- ISSN
1420-682X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00018-015-1995-y