Myeloid Cell Turnover and Clearance

Given the dual and intrinsically contradictory roles of myeloid cells in both protective and yet also damaging effects of inflammatory and immunological processes, we suggest that it is important to consider the mechanisms and circumstances by which these cells are removed, either in the normal unchallenged state or during inflammation or disease. In this essay we address these subjects from a conceptual perspective, focusing as examples on four main myeloid cell types (neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and myeloid dendritic cells) and their clearance from the circulation or from naive and inflamed tissues. While the primary clearance process appears to involve endocytic uptake into macrophages, various tissue cell types can also recognize and remove dying cells, though their overall quantitative contribution is unclear. In fact, surprisingly, given the wealth of study in this area over the last 30 years, our conclusion is that we are still challenged with a substantial lack of mechanistic and regulatory understanding of when, how, and by what mechanisms migratory myeloid cells come to die and are recognized as needing to be removed, and indeed the precise processes of uptake of either the intact or fragmented cells. This reflects the extreme complexity and inherent redundancy of the clearance processes and argues for substantial investigative effort in this arena. In addition, it leads us to a sense that approaches to significant therapeutic modulation of selective myeloid clearance are still a long way off.