Circulating blood monocytes supply peripheral tissues with macrophage and dendritic cell
(DC) precursors and, in the setting of infection, also contribute directly to immune defense
against microbial pathogens. In humans and mice, monocytes are divided into two major
subsets that either specifically traffic into inflamed tissues or, in the absence of overt
inflammation, constitutively maintain tissue macrophage/DC populations. Inflammatory
monocytes respond rapidly to microbial stimuli by secreting cytokines and antimicrobial …