[Some recent facts on the function of macrophages and their modification]

A survey is given of the occurrence, the biochemical qualities and the various functions of macrophages. By binding of gamma-interferon and of waste products of bacteria they are activated and increasedly give off interleukin 1 and other compounds, which play a part in the evocation of the immune reaction and the inflammatory processes. The interleukin 1 causes the evocation of fever, an increase of the secretion of corticoliberin and of ACTH, an increase of the formation of the proteins which are increasedly effective in the acute phase of the inflammation as well as an activation of B- and T-lymphocytes. For the phagocytosis, among others, the fibronectin is of importance, the content of which in the blood plasma is greatly reduced in sepsis and after severe burns. In macrophages an elaboration of numerous antigens takes place which are then transferred into the membrane and under participation of glycoproteins of MCH II cause an activation of T-lymphocytes.