The chemokine system in diverse forms of macrophage activation and polarization

A Mantovani, A Sica, S Sozzani, P Allavena… - Trends in …, 2004 - cell.com
A Mantovani, A Sica, S Sozzani, P Allavena, A Vecchi, M Locati
Trends in immunology, 2004cell.com
Plasticity and functional polarization are hallmarks of the mononuclear phagocyte system.
Here we review emerging key properties of different forms of macrophage activation and
polarization (M1, M2a, M2b, M2c), which represent extremes of a continuum. In particular,
recent evidence suggests that differential modulation of the chemokine system integrates
polarized macrophages in pathways of resistance to, or promotion of, microbial pathogens
and tumors, or immunoregulation, tissue repair and remodeling.
Plasticity and functional polarization are hallmarks of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Here we review emerging key properties of different forms of macrophage activation and polarization (M1, M2a, M2b, M2c), which represent extremes of a continuum. In particular, recent evidence suggests that differential modulation of the chemokine system integrates polarized macrophages in pathways of resistance to, or promotion of, microbial pathogens and tumors, or immunoregulation, tissue repair and remodeling.
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