2016
Volume 16, Number 4, pp. 162–166
Macrophages—cells with broad potential
E.O. Tsitsilashvili,1 L.V. Shanshiashvili1,2 and D.G. Mikeladze1, 2
1Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
2Beritashvili Centre of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
Macrophages are large, specialized phagocytic cells that recognize, engulf and destroy infected, damaged or dead cells. They are derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Upon activation with specific cytokines, macrophages can assume cellular states M1 or M2 and produce either pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines and thereby perform their functions. In this review different aspects of macrophages’ origin, homeostatic activities and plasticity are discussed.