Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR, USA.
The Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University/University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Results Probl Cell Differ. 2024;74:55-87. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-65944-7_2.
Macrophages are critical to the immune response, serving multiple essential roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis and providing immune protection. These cells also interact with and influence the extracellular matrix (ECM) by sensing and responding to its components. Such interactions between macrophages and the ECM are mediated through the secretion and uptake of various biomacromolecules, such as cytokines and the extracellular vesicles, including exosomes and microvesicles. These vesicles are pivotal in regulating cellular behaviors that affect the organism's overall function. Moreover, macrophages are integral to the repair mechanisms that alter tissue structure and functionality during tissue remodeling. This chapter will delineate how macrophages interact with the ECM and discuss potential therapeutic strategies leveraging these interactions. It will conclude with a discussion of the challenges ahead, highlighting the importance of understanding macrophage-ECM dynamics for advancing basic biology and clinical applications.
巨噬细胞在免疫反应中至关重要，在维持组织内稳态和提供免疫保护方面发挥着多种重要作用。这些细胞还通过感知和响应细胞外基质 (ECM) 的成分与 ECM 相互作用并影响其功能。巨噬细胞与 ECM 之间的这种相互作用是通过分泌和摄取各种生物大分子（如细胞因子和细胞外囊泡，包括外泌体和微泡）来介导的。这些囊泡在调节细胞行为方面起着关键作用，这些行为会影响生物体的整体功能。此外，巨噬细胞是改变组织结构和功能的组织重塑修复机制的重要组成部分。本章将阐述巨噬细胞如何与 ECM 相互作用，并讨论利用这些相互作用的潜在治疗策略。最后将讨论未来的挑战，强调了解巨噬细胞-ECM 动力学对推进基础生物学和临床应用的重要性。
