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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Visualization of Inflammatory Caspases Induced Proximity in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages
Published on: April 6, 2022
Recent progress on developing exogenous monocyte/macrophage-based therapies for inflammatory and degenerative
Mable Wing Yan Chan1, Sowmya Viswanathan2
1Arthritis Program, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Cell-based therapies are a rapidly developing area of regenerative medicine as dynamic treatments that execute therapeutic functions multimodally. Monocytes and macrophages, as innate immune cells that control inflammation and tissue repair, are increasing popular clinical candidates due to their spectrum of functionality. In this article, we review the role of monocytes and macrophages specifically in inflammatory and degenerative disease pathology and the evidence supporting the use of these cells as an effective therapeutic strategy. We compare current strategies of exogenously polarized monocyte/macrophage therapies regarding dosage, delivery and processing to identify outcomes, advances and challenges to their clinical use. Monocytes/macrophages hold the potential to be a promising therapeutic avenue but understanding and optimization of disease-specific efficacy is needed to accelerate their clinical use.
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