Alveolar and lung interstitial macrophages: Definitions, functions, and roles in lung fibrosis

• Published in: Journal of leukocyte biology Vol. 110; no. 1; pp. 107 - 114
• Main Authors: Shi, Ting, Denney, Laura, An, Huazhang, Ho, Ling‐Pei, Zheng, Yuejuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Animals; asthma; Cellular Microenvironment; Disease Susceptibility; fibrosis; Homeostasis; Humans; Immunity, Innate; lung; Lung - immunology; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Macrophages, Alveolar - immunology; Macrophages, Alveolar - metabolism; Macrophages, Alveolar - pathology; Mϕs; Pulmonary Alveoli - immunology; Pulmonary Alveoli - metabolism; Pulmonary Alveoli - pathology; Pulmonary Fibrosis - etiology; Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism; Pulmonary Fibrosis - pathology; lung; Mϕs; asthma; fibrosis
• ISSN: 0741-5400; 1938-3673; 1938-3673
• DOI: 10.1002/JLB.3RU0720-418R

Mϕs are the main innate immune cells in the lung at homeostasis, with important roles in host defence and immune modulation. Alveolar Mϕs (AMs) and interstitial Mϕs (IMs) are the two lung Mϕ subsets, so called according to the sites they reside in. These subsets are also defined by their origins and immunological microenvironment, which endow these cells with distinct features and plasticity. This review summarizes the latest definitions and functions of lung Mϕs during homeostasis and provides exemplar of their divergent roles in lung fibrosis. Graphical Review describes the latest definitions and functions of lung macrophages during homeostasis and provides examples of their different roles in the development and progression of lung fibrosis.