Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?

Macrophages are key cellular components of the innate immunity, acting as the main player in the first-line defence against the pathogens and modulating homeostatic and inflammatory responses. Plasticity is a major feature of macrophages resulting in extreme heterogeneity both in normal and in patho...

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Main Authors: Luca Parisi, Elisabetta Gini, Denisa Baci, Marco Tremolati, Matteo Fanuli, Barbara Bassani, Giampietro Farronato, Antonino Bruno, Lorenzo Mortara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Immunology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8917804
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author Luca Parisi
Elisabetta Gini
Denisa Baci
Marco Tremolati
Matteo Fanuli
Barbara Bassani
Giampietro Farronato
Antonino Bruno
Lorenzo Mortara
author_facet Luca Parisi
Elisabetta Gini
Denisa Baci
Marco Tremolati
Matteo Fanuli
Barbara Bassani
Giampietro Farronato
Antonino Bruno
Lorenzo Mortara
author_sort Luca Parisi
collection DOAJ
description Macrophages are key cellular components of the innate immunity, acting as the main player in the first-line defence against the pathogens and modulating homeostatic and inflammatory responses. Plasticity is a major feature of macrophages resulting in extreme heterogeneity both in normal and in pathological conditions. Macrophages are not homogenous, and they are generally categorized into two broad but distinct subsets as either classically activated (M1) or alternatively activated (M2). However, macrophages represent a continuum of highly plastic effector cells, resembling a spectrum of diverse phenotype states. Induction of specific macrophage functions is closely related to the surrounding environment that acts as a relevant orchestrator of macrophage functions. This phenomenon, termed polarization, results from cell/cell, cell/molecule interaction, governing macrophage functionality within the hosting tissues. Here, we summarized relevant cellular and molecular mechanisms driving macrophage polarization in “distant” pathological conditions, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and periodontitis that share macrophage-driven inflammation as a key feature, playing their dual role as killers (M1-like) and/or builders (M2-like). We also dissect the physio/pathological consequences related to macrophage polarization within selected chronic inflammatory diseases, placing polarized macrophages as a relevant hallmark, putative biomarkers, and possible target for prevention/therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-4aa5d6fe0a0b48759430aa64d1ec81d92025-08-20T02:38:05ZengWileyJournal of Immunology Research2314-88612314-71562018-01-01201810.1155/2018/89178048917804Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?Luca Parisi0Elisabetta Gini1Denisa Baci2Marco Tremolati3Matteo Fanuli4Barbara Bassani5Giampietro Farronato6Antonino Bruno7Lorenzo Mortara8Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyImmunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyScientific and Technologic Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyImmunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyScientific and Technologic Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, ItalyImmunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyMacrophages are key cellular components of the innate immunity, acting as the main player in the first-line defence against the pathogens and modulating homeostatic and inflammatory responses. Plasticity is a major feature of macrophages resulting in extreme heterogeneity both in normal and in pathological conditions. Macrophages are not homogenous, and they are generally categorized into two broad but distinct subsets as either classically activated (M1) or alternatively activated (M2). However, macrophages represent a continuum of highly plastic effector cells, resembling a spectrum of diverse phenotype states. Induction of specific macrophage functions is closely related to the surrounding environment that acts as a relevant orchestrator of macrophage functions. This phenomenon, termed polarization, results from cell/cell, cell/molecule interaction, governing macrophage functionality within the hosting tissues. Here, we summarized relevant cellular and molecular mechanisms driving macrophage polarization in “distant” pathological conditions, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and periodontitis that share macrophage-driven inflammation as a key feature, playing their dual role as killers (M1-like) and/or builders (M2-like). We also dissect the physio/pathological consequences related to macrophage polarization within selected chronic inflammatory diseases, placing polarized macrophages as a relevant hallmark, putative biomarkers, and possible target for prevention/therapy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8917804
spellingShingle Luca Parisi
Elisabetta Gini
Denisa Baci
Marco Tremolati
Matteo Fanuli
Barbara Bassani
Giampietro Farronato
Antonino Bruno
Lorenzo Mortara
Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?
Journal of Immunology Research
title Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?
title_full Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?
title_fullStr Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?
title_full_unstemmed Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?
title_short Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Killers or Builders?
title_sort macrophage polarization in chronic inflammatory diseases killers or builders
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8917804
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