Macrophages in Inflammation and Infection

Abstract

MACROPHAGES participate in all types of inflammation and predominate as the inflammation resolves or becomes chronic. They are produced in the bone marrow, enter the bloodstream in a relatively immature state and emigrate into inflammatory sites, where, under proper stimulation, they can mature into highly activated cells. In the absence of such stimulation, they simply remain immature and inactive, as a reserve local defense force. In their role as the major scavengers of the body, they eliminate dead cells, denatured proteins and foreign material, including infectious agents. For this task they manufacture hydrolytic enzymes and microbicidins, which seem to be . . .