Biological effects / Functions & Macrophages (CD68s)

Macrophages help clear microbes by using mechanisms such as

• phagocytosis
  Lötstedt et al. 2024 Nat Biotechnol 42: 1394-1403


• production of reactive oxygen species
  Littman & Pamer 2011 Cell Host Microbe. 10: 311-323


• nitric oxide (NO)
  Vazquez-Torres et al. 2008 Methods Enzymol 437: 521-538


• antimicrobial peptides
  Smith et al. 2011 Mucosal Immunol 4: 31-42
  Kim 2014a Intest Res 12: 20-33

Tissue-resident macrophages contribute not only to immune defence but also to tissue homeostasis.
Ginhoux & Guilliams 2016 Immunity 44: 439-449
Nobs & Kops 2021 Trends in Immunology 42: 495-507

They play a key role in supporting their host tissue by secreting growth factors and responding to tissue damage and also carry out unique, tissue-specific functions.
Viola et al. 2023 Nature 618: 818-826

They carry out specialized functions according to their anatomical location.
Viola & Boeckxstaens 2021 Gut 70: 1383-1395

Muscularis macrophages (MMϕ)

Muscularis macrophages (MMϕ) are long-lived macrophages in the muscularis externa located in close proximity to the myenteric plexus, which coordinates gastrointestinal motility. The interaction between muscularis macrophages and enteric neurons controls the movement of the gastrointestinal tract.
Hashimoto et al. 2013 Immunity 38: 792-804
De Schepper et al. 2018 Cell 175: 400-415
Muller et al. 2014 Cell 158: 300-313

see also:
Defense Systems / Defense Mechanisms
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) & Intestinal mucosal macrophages
Intestinal Homeostasis
Intestinal mucosal macrophages
Tissue repair