The biological activity of macrophages in health and disease
Journal Title: Advances in Hygiene and Experimental Medicine - Year 2012, Vol 66, Issue 0
Abstract
Macrophages are involved in immune response as phagocytes, antigen presenting cells and as effector cells of delayed-type hypersensitivity. Moreover, the activity of macrophages is associated with modulation of many biological processes during the whole life and depends on the actual macrophage phenotype induced under the influence of various microenvironmental stimuli. In pregnancy, placental macrophages induce the development of maternal tolerance to fetal antigens, while fetal macrophages are responsible for proper formation of tissues and organs. Residual macrophages play a very important role in tissue homeostasis, apoptotic cell clearance to prevent autoimmunization and first defense in infections. The inflammatory response of macrophages may be modulated by pathogens. Their suppressive activity is observed in immunologically privileged organs such as testes. In pathologies, macrophages are responsible for tissue damage in a case of nonspecific activation followed by overproduction of proinflammatory factors. Suppression of a specific immune response against tumors is mainly the effect of tumor associated macrophage (TAM) action. On the other hand, presentation of allergens or self-antigens by macrophages and their nonspecific activation by necrotic adipocytes leads to the induction of a chronic inflammatory response and impairment of immunity. Therefore, modulation of macrophage functions may be the key for improvement of therapy of cancer and allergic, autoimmune, metabolic, cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Authors and Affiliations
Katarzyna Nazimek, Krzysztof Bryniarski
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP66740
- DOI -
- Views 170
- Downloads 0
The role of survivin in the diagnosis and therapy of gynaecological cancers
Survivin is a member of the family of apoptosis inhibitors. It regulates several essential cellular processes, i.e. it inhibits apoptosis and promotes cell proliferation, DNA repair and autophagy. Survivin is responsible...
Identification of the genes expression profile associated with the ex vivo resistance to etoposide in childhood acute leukemias
Introduction: Drug resistance and the gene expression profiles might discriminate the therapy outcome, and indicate the subgroup of patients with poor prognosis. In this study we analyzed the gene expression profile in...
Molekularne mechanizmy towarzyszące rozpoznawaniu patogenu przez receptory wrodzonej odporności
Odporność wrodzona jest pierwszą linią obrony przeciw patogenom. Struktury patogenów nazywane PAMPs (wzorce molekularne związane z patogenami) rozpoznawane są przez zewnątrz- i wewnątrzkomórkowe receptory PRRs, spośród k...
Selen w chorobie Gravesa-Basedowa
W pracy omówiono obecny stan wiedzy na temat roli selenu w chorobie Gravesa-Basedowa (Graves-Basedov’ disease – GBD). W ostatnim czasie, w patogenezie i przebiegu tej choroby, coraz więcej uwagi poświęca się zależności m...
Zaburzenie homeostazy żelaza w stwardnieniu zanikowym bocznym
Żelazo jest niezbędne wszystkim komórkom w organizmach ssaków, ale w nadmiarze może być dla nich toksyczne. Mimo znaczącego postępu wiedzy dotyczącej mechanizmów komórkowej i ogólnoustrojowej homeostazy żelaza, jaki doko...