Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

Macrophages are critical mediators of inflammation and important regulators of developmental processes. As a key phagocytic cell type, macrophages evolved as part of the innate immune system to engulf and process cell debris and pathogens. Macrophages produce factors that act directly on their micro...

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Main Authors: Nicholas J. Brady, Pavlina Chuntova, Kathryn L. Schwertfeger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4549676
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author Nicholas J. Brady
Pavlina Chuntova
Kathryn L. Schwertfeger
author_facet Nicholas J. Brady
Pavlina Chuntova
Kathryn L. Schwertfeger
author_sort Nicholas J. Brady
collection DOAJ
description Macrophages are critical mediators of inflammation and important regulators of developmental processes. As a key phagocytic cell type, macrophages evolved as part of the innate immune system to engulf and process cell debris and pathogens. Macrophages produce factors that act directly on their microenvironment and also bridge innate immune responses to the adaptive immune system. Resident macrophages are important for acting as sensors for tissue damage and maintaining tissue homeostasis. It is now well-established that macrophages are an integral component of the breast tumor microenvironment, where they contribute to tumor growth and progression, likely through many of the mechanisms that are utilized during normal wound healing responses. Because macrophages contribute to normal mammary gland development and breast cancer growth and progression, this review will discuss both resident mammary gland macrophages and tumor-associated macrophages with an emphasis on describing how macrophages interact with their surrounding environment during normal development and in the context of cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-ff083491ddf444f2b2b8b3de473c0e592025-08-20T02:22:45ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18612016-01-01201610.1155/2016/45496764549676Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast CancerNicholas J. Brady0Pavlina Chuntova1Kathryn L. Schwertfeger2Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USAMicrobiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USADepartment of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USAMacrophages are critical mediators of inflammation and important regulators of developmental processes. As a key phagocytic cell type, macrophages evolved as part of the innate immune system to engulf and process cell debris and pathogens. Macrophages produce factors that act directly on their microenvironment and also bridge innate immune responses to the adaptive immune system. Resident macrophages are important for acting as sensors for tissue damage and maintaining tissue homeostasis. It is now well-established that macrophages are an integral component of the breast tumor microenvironment, where they contribute to tumor growth and progression, likely through many of the mechanisms that are utilized during normal wound healing responses. Because macrophages contribute to normal mammary gland development and breast cancer growth and progression, this review will discuss both resident mammary gland macrophages and tumor-associated macrophages with an emphasis on describing how macrophages interact with their surrounding environment during normal development and in the context of cancer.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4549676
spellingShingle Nicholas J. Brady
Pavlina Chuntova
Kathryn L. Schwertfeger
Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer
Mediators of Inflammation
title Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer
title_full Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer
title_fullStr Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer
title_short Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer
title_sort macrophages regulators of the inflammatory microenvironment during mammary gland development and breast cancer
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4549676
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AT kathrynlschwertfeger macrophagesregulatorsoftheinflammatorymicroenvironmentduringmammaryglanddevelopmentandbreastcancer