Macrophage Polarity and Disease Control
Suguru Kadomoto, Kouji Izumi, Atsushi Mizokami
Abstract
Macrophages are present in most human tissues and have very diverse functions. Activated macrophages are usually divided into two phenotypes, M1 macrophages and M2 macrophages, which are altered by various factors such as microorganisms, tissue microenvironment, and cytokine signals. Macrophage polarity is very important for infections, inflammatory diseases, and malignancies; its management can be key in the prevention and treatment of diseases. In this review, we assess the current state of knowledge on macrophage polarity and report on its prospects as a therapeutic target.
Topics & Concepts
Polarity (international relations)MacrophageMacrophage-activating factorPhenotypeCytokineInflammationImmunologyDiseaseCell biologyBiologyMedicineIn vitroPathologyGeneCellBiochemistryImmune cells in cancerPhagocytosis and Immune RegulationEpigenetics and DNA Methylation