Macrophage polarization and allergic rhinitis: A review

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). Its global prevalence continues to rise, posing a significant public health burden. Macrophages (Mϕ), a key component of the innate immune system, regulate AR pathology through phenotypic polarization. Their roles include antigen presentation, modulation of inflammatory microenvironment homeostasis and tissue repair. Previous studies have primarily focused on single signaling pathways or specific cytokines, which is a limitation to a comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional role of macrophages in allergic rhinitis. This review breaks through the limitations of traditional research by systematically integrating the mechanisms of M1/M2 macrophage polarization in AR and the progress in targeted regulation studies. It particularly focuses on exploring regulatory strategies based on targeting macrophage polarization, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and innovative directions for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and mechanistic research of AR.