TY - BOOK ID - 698415 TI - Macrophages: Biology and Role in the Pathology of Diseases AU - Biswas, Subhra K. AU - Mantovani, Alberto. PY - 2014 SN - 1493913115 1493913107 PB - New York, NY : Springer New York : Imprint: Springer, DB - UniCat KW - Macrophages. KW - Histiocytes KW - Mononuclear phagocytes KW - Antigen presenting cells KW - Connective tissue cells KW - Killer cells KW - Phagocytes KW - Reticulo-endothelial system KW - Immunology. KW - Monoclonal antibodies. KW - Microbiology. KW - Antibodies. KW - Medical Microbiology. KW - Microbial biology KW - Biology KW - Microorganisms KW - Antibodies, Monoclonal KW - Monoclonal immunoglobulins KW - Immunoglobulins KW - Molecular cloning KW - Immunobiology KW - Life sciences KW - Serology KW - Medical microbiology. KW - Antibodies KW - Immune globulins KW - Immune serum globulin KW - Blood proteins KW - Globulins KW - Plasma cells KW - Antibody diversity KW - Antigens KW - Bacterial immunoglobulin-binding proteins UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:698415 AB - Macrophages are a key component of the innate immune system and play an integral role in host defense and homeostasis. On one hand, these cells contribute to host defence by triggering inflammation, displaying microbicidal/tumoricidal properties, regulating the activation of adaptive immunity and promoting resolution of inflammation. On the other hand, they contribute to essential trophic functions such as neural patterning, bone morphogenesis and ductal branching in mammary glands. Thus, macrophages are extremely versatile cells that can respond efficiently to tissue microenvironmental cues by polarizing to distinct phenotypes, depending on the functions they need to perform. Indeed, functional diversity and plasticity are hallmarks of these cells. Macrophages may also play a detrimental role. An overwhelming body of literature has indicated their crucial role in pathogenesis. The list includes sepsis, cancer, metabolic syndrome, immunodeficiency, auto-immune disease- virtually impacting every major pathology that we know. These observations have suggested macrophages and their related molecules as potential targets in therapeutic applications. Available evidence proclaims macrophages as a key player in homeostasis, host defense and disease. Crucial developments in the past few years call for a re-evaluation and update of our understanding of macrophages. The present book is an endeavour that attempts to provide state-of-the art knowledge of these cells in health and disease. ER -