![]() Macrophages that encourage inflammation are called M1 macrophages, whereas those that decrease inflammation and encourage tissue repair are called M2 macrophages. In humans, dysfunctional macrophages cause severe diseases such as chronic granulomatous disease that result in frequent infections.īeyond increasing inflammation and stimulating the immune system, macrophages also play an important anti-inflammatory role and can decrease immune reactions through the release of cytokines. For example, they are important as antigen presenters to T cells. ![]() Besides phagocytosis, they play a critical role in nonspecific defense ( innate immunity) and also help initiate specific defense mechanisms ( adaptive immunity) by recruiting other immune cells such as lymphocytes. ![]() They take various forms (with various names) throughout the body (e.g., histiocytes, Kupffer cells, alveolar macrophages, microglia, and others), but all are part of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Macrophages are found in essentially all tissues, where they patrol for potential pathogens by amoeboid movement. ![]() This process is called phagocytosis, which acts to defend the host against infection and injury. Macrophages (abbreviated as M φ, MΦ or MP) ( Greek: large eaters, from Greek μακρός ( makrós) = large, φαγεῖν ( phagein) = to eat) are a type of white blood cell of the innate immune system that engulf and digest pathogens, such as cancer cells, microbes, cellular debris, and foreign substances, which do not have proteins that are specific to healthy body cells on their surface. ![]()
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