Origin, Differentiation, and Function of Intestinal Macrophages

Overview

Journal Front Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2018 Dec 13

PMID 30538701

Citations 148

Authors

Calum C Bain

Anika Schridde

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Macrophages are increasingly recognized as essential players in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and as key sentinels of the intestinal immune system. However, somewhat paradoxically, they are also implicated in chronic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are therefore considered potential targets for novel therapies. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of intestinal macrophage heterogeneity, their ontogeny and the potential factors that regulate their origin. We will describe how the local environment of the intestine imprints the phenotypic and functional identity of the macrophage compartment, and how this changes during intestinal inflammation and infection. Finally, we highlight key outstanding questions that should be the focus of future research.

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