Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Bone Marrow-derived Macrophage Production
07:06

Bone Marrow-derived Macrophage Production

Published on: November 22, 2013

Metchnikoff's policemen: macrophages in development, homeostasis and regeneration

James A Stefater1, Shuyu Ren, Richard A Lang

  • 1Visual Systems Group, Divisions of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Trends in Molecular Medicine
|September 6, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Macrophages, initially known for ingesting microbes, have diverse roles beyond immunity. Modern genetic tools reveal their functions in development, tissue homeostasis, and repair, offering new insights into these versatile myeloid cells.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology and Cell Biology
  • Focuses on myeloid lineage cells, particularly macrophages.

Background:

  • Macrophages were historically identified by their role in phagocytosis of microbes.
  • Recent advancements reveal broader functions extending beyond innate immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diverse functions of macrophages beyond their classical immune roles.
  • To highlight their involvement in development, tissue homeostasis, remodeling, and repair.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature.
  • Emphasis on insights gained from modern genetic tools.

Main Results:

  • Macrophages regulate critical physiological processes including development and tissue repair.
  • Genetic tools have significantly advanced understanding of macrophage functions.

Conclusions:

  • Macrophages are key regulators in multiple biological processes, not just immunity.
  • Further research using advanced genetic tools will continue to uncover their complex roles.

More Related Videos

Interrogating Cell-Cell Interactions in the Salivary Gland via Ex Vivo Live Cell Imaging05:40

Interrogating Cell-Cell Interactions in the Salivary Gland via Ex Vivo Live Cell Imaging

Published on: November 17, 2023

Investigation of Macrophage Polarization Using Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages10:07

Investigation of Macrophage Polarization Using Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages

Published on: June 23, 2013

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...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Inflammation01:38

Inflammation

Overview
Chronic Inflammation: Introduction01:12

Chronic Inflammation: Introduction

Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, dysregulated immune response that persists for weeks to years when the inciting stimulus is difficult to eradicate or when self‑antigens drive ongoing reactivity. Morphologically, it is defined by mononuclear cell infiltration, progressive tissue destruction, and concurrent attempts at healing via angiogenesis and fibrosis. Compared with acute inflammation, edema is less prominent while cellular infiltration predominates; triggers include persistent...
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells01:15

Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

Common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) are oligopotent cells that can differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages. Granulocytes and macrophages are essential for protecting the body against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. They migrate from the bone marrow into the circulating blood to reach specific tissue sites where they differentiate and help in immune surveillance. However, they survive only for a few days and must be continuously made available to the organism to maintain a robust...