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Pulmonary intravascular macrophages and lung health: what are we missing?

David Schneberger1, Karin Aharonson-Raz, Baljit Singh

  • 1Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
|January 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) are found in many animals and can be induced in rats. Studying human PIMs is crucial for understanding inflammatory lung diseases like hepato-pulmonary syndrome.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary immunology
  • Cell biology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) are present in various animal species and can be induced in rats.
  • Human lungs are generally considered to lack PIMs, but their presence has been suggested in liver dysfunction.
  • Recent studies indicate PIM induction in bile-duct ligated rats and humans with hepato-pulmonary syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biology of PIMs.
  • To advocate for increased research focus on human PIMs.
  • To explore the role of PIMs in pulmonary diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PIM biology.
  • Analysis of existing data on PIM induction.
  • Synthesis of information on PIMs in animal models and human conditions.

Main Results:

  • PIMs are constitutively present in many mammals and can be induced in species lacking them.
  • Evidence suggests PIMs can be induced in humans with liver dysfunction, specifically hepato-pulmonary syndrome.
  • PIMs exhibit pro-inflammatory responses to endotoxins and bacteria.

Conclusions:

  • PIMs play a significant role in inflammatory responses within the lungs.
  • Further investigation into human PIMs is essential for understanding lung disease mechanisms.
  • Targeting PIMs may offer new therapeutic strategies for pulmonary inflammatory conditions.

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