Macrophage Polarity and Disease Control

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 144
• Main Authors: Kadomoto, Suguru, Izumi, Kouji, Mizokami, Atsushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23.12.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; autoimmune diseases; Bacteria; Bone marrow; Cell Polarity - physiology; cell-cell interaction; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Disease; Disease control; Genotype & phenotype; HIV; Homeostasis; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human tissues; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inflammatory diseases; Lungs; Macrophages; Macrophages - metabolism; Macrophages - pathology; microenvironment; Microenvironments; Microorganisms; monocytes; Nitric oxide; Phenotypes; Polarity; Review; Therapeutic targets; Tuberculosis; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; autoimmune diseases; microenvironment; monocytes; M1; M2; cell-cell interaction; tumor-associated macrophages
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010144

Macrophages are present in most human tissues and have very diverse functions. Activated macrophages are usually divided into two phenotypes, M1 macrophages and M2 macrophages, which are altered by various factors such as microorganisms, tissue microenvironment, and cytokine signals. Macrophage polarity is very important for infections, inflammatory diseases, and malignancies; its management can be key in the prevention and treatment of diseases. In this review, we assess the current state of knowledge on macrophage polarity and report on its prospects as a therapeutic target.