Phagocytes and monokines: perspectives on metabolic regulation in sepsis.

The importance of monocytes and macrophages in antimicrobial host defense physiology has long been recognized. The mononuclear phagocyte system includes the precursor cells in bone marrow, or promonocytes, circulating peripheral blood monocytes, and the resident tissue macrophages of both fixed and free types. This review focuses on the pathophysiological role of the monokines, especially interleukin-1 in metabolic regulation during sepsis.