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Related Concept Videos

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Isolation of Human Monocytes by Double Gradient Centrifugation and Their Differentiation to Macrophages in Teflon-coated Cell Culture Bags
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Isolation of Human Monocytes by Double Gradient Centrifugation and Their Differentiation to Macrophages in Teflon-coated Cell Culture Bags

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Macrophages : identification, separation, and function.

L W Poulter1, C M Burke

  • 1Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK.

Methods in Molecular Medicine
|February 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lung macrophages exhibit diverse phenotypes and functions, adapting to their specific microenvironments. These plastic immune cells play multiple roles, including phagocytosis and microbial defense, highlighting their functional adaptability within the respiratory system.

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Isolation of Human Monocytes by Double Gradient Centrifugation and Their Differentiation to Macrophages in Teflon-coated Cell Culture Bags
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Isolation of Human Monocytes by Double Gradient Centrifugation and Their Differentiation to Macrophages in Teflon-coated Cell Culture Bags

Published on: September 9, 2014

A Simple and Efficient Method to Isolate Macrophages from Mixed Primary Cultures of Adult Liver Cells
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Bone Marrow-derived Macrophage Production

Published on: November 22, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary immunology
  • Cell biology

Background:

  • Macrophages are distributed throughout the human lung in various compartments, including the pleura, interstitium, alveoli, and airways.
  • Macrophages in different lung sites display subtle physiological and phenotypic distinctions, with animal studies suggesting functional variations between compartments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the plasticity of lung macrophage phenotypes and their functional diversity.
  • To investigate whether observed differences in lung macrophages are inherent or environmentally influenced.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on lung macrophage distribution, phenotype, and function.
  • Analysis of studies examining macrophage migration and environmental influences.

Main Results:

  • Lung macrophages are motile and can migrate between compartments, suggesting observed differences may be due to environmental adaptation.
  • Macrophages demonstrate significant phenotypic plasticity, adapting their characteristics based on their location within the lung.
  • This plasticity implies a diversity of functions beyond traditional roles like phagocytosis or microbicidal activity.

Conclusions:

  • Lung macrophage heterogeneity is largely driven by environmental influences rather than fixed cellular distinctions.
  • Macrophages exhibit remarkable functional plasticity, adapting to fulfill various roles within the lung microenvironment.