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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
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Development of an Antigen-driven Colitis Model to Study Presentation of Antigens by Antigen Presenting Cells to T Cells
Published on: September 18, 2016
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Macrophages in Ulcerative Colitis: Immunomodulatory Roles, Phenotypic Switching, and Therapeutic Targeting
Maojun Zhao1, Shaochen Yu2, Mengjie Zhang3
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Guizhou Hospital, Guiyang, China.
Journal of Innate Immunity
|January 13, 2026
Summary
In ulcerative colitis (UC), pro-inflammatory macrophages drive gut inflammation and damage. Targeting these immune cells offers promising therapeutic strategies for UC patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) involves immune dysregulation in the gut.
- Intestinal macrophages are crucial in maintaining gut homeostasis and UC pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of intestinal macrophages in UC.
- To discuss macrophage origin, heterogeneity, plasticity, and regulatory pathways in UC.
- To evaluate current and emerging macrophage-targeted therapies for UC.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of macrophage biology in UC.
- Analysis of signaling pathways (NF-κB, JAK-STAT, NLRP3 inflammasome).
- Evaluation of therapeutic strategies including cytokine blockade and nanomedicine.
Main Results:
- Intestinal macrophages exhibit "inflammatory anergy" in health but polarize to pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotypes in UC.
- M1-like macrophages secrete inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12/23), ROS/RNS, and MMPs, damaging the epithelial barrier.
- Key regulatory pathways like NF-κB, JAK-STAT, and NLRP3 inflammasome are implicated in UC macrophage function.
Conclusions:
- Understanding macrophage plasticity and heterogeneity is key to developing targeted UC therapies.
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics are needed to define macrophage subsets in human UC.
- Developing precise immunomodulatory strategies and biomarkers can improve patient care for UC.
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