Nazimek Katarzyna, Bryniarski Krzysztof
Katedra Immunologii, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Collegium Medicum, Kraków.
Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2012 Jul 20;66:507-20. doi: 10.5604/17322693.1004080.
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.
巨噬细胞作为吞噬细胞、抗原呈递细胞以及迟发型超敏反应的效应细胞参与免疫反应。此外，巨噬细胞的活性与整个生命过程中许多生物过程的调节相关，并且取决于在各种微环境刺激影响下诱导产生的实际巨噬细胞表型。在妊娠期间，胎盘巨噬细胞诱导母体对胎儿抗原产生耐受性，而胎儿巨噬细胞则负责组织和器官的正常形成。残余巨噬细胞在组织稳态、清除凋亡细胞以防止自身免疫以及感染的第一道防御中发挥非常重要的作用。巨噬细胞的炎症反应可能受到病原体的调节。在免疫特权器官如睾丸中观察到它们的抑制活性。在病理情况下，巨噬细胞在非特异性激活后因促炎因子过度产生而导致组织损伤。对肿瘤特异性免疫反应的抑制主要是肿瘤相关巨噬细胞（TAM）作用的结果。另一方面，巨噬细胞呈递变应原或自身抗原以及它们被坏死脂肪细胞非特异性激活会导致慢性炎症反应的诱导和免疫功能受损。因此，调节巨噬细胞功能可能是改善癌症以及过敏性、自身免疫性、代谢性、心血管疾病和阿尔茨海默病治疗的关键。
