Monotsüütemakrofaagid

Monotsüütemakrofaagid, often simply referred to as macrophages, are a crucial component of the innate immune system. They are large phagocytic cells that originate from monocytes, which are a type of white blood cell produced in the bone marrow. Once monocytes leave the bloodstream and enter tissues, they differentiate into macrophages.

Macrophages play a multifaceted role in immunity. Their primary function is phagocytosis, the process of engulfing and degrading pathogens, cellular debris, and foreign substances. This makes them essential for cleaning up infection sites and tissue damage. Beyond phagocytosis, macrophages are also key antigen-presenting cells. They process antigens from ingested pathogens and present them on their surface to T lymphocytes, thereby initiating an adaptive immune response.

Macrophages exhibit a high degree of plasticity and can adopt different functional states depending on the surrounding microenvironment. For instance, M1 macrophages are typically pro-inflammatory and are involved in fighting microbial infections, while M2 macrophages are often associated with tissue repair, wound healing, and immune suppression. This adaptability allows macrophages to respond effectively to a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. They are found in virtually all tissues of the body, where they are often given specific names based on their location, such as Kupffer cells in the liver or microglia in the brain.