Activation and cytotoxic activity of macrophages: a short review

Interaction of sensitized T-lymphocytes with specific antigen, as well as several other nonimmunological stimuli, will induce the appearance of new properties in macrophages collectively referred to as "activation". The importance of macrophage activation in various physiological processes is only just beginning to be understood. A growing body of evidence strongly suggests that activated macrophages may play a dual role: firstly in protecting the host against certain interacellular pathogens, and secondly in modulating cell proliferation and adversely affecting cells with abnormal growth properties. It is expected that the ability of activated macrophages to discriminate between normal and tumor cells will receive increasing attention. If confirmed, this property may be of major importance with regard to immunotherapy of tumors.