Changes in macrophage phenotype as the immune response evolves

Mononuclear phagocytic cells (MPCs), including macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), are widely distributed throughout our organs where they perform important homeostatic, surveillance and regenerative tasks. In response to infection or injury, the composition and number of MPCs change remarkably, in part due to the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes from bone marrow. In infection or injury, macrophages and DCs perform important innate and adaptive immune roles from the initial insult through repair and regeneration of the tissue and resolution of inflammation. Evidence from mouse models of disease has shown increasing complexity and subtlety to the mononuclear phagocytic system, which will be reviewed here. New studies show that in addition to monocytes, the resident populations of mononuclear phagocytes expand in disease states and play distinct but important roles in the immune response. Finally, new insights into these functionally diverse cells are now translating into therapeutics to treat human disease.