Development and Functions of Alveolar Macrophages

• Published in: Molecules and cells Vol. 44; no. 5; pp. 292 - 300
• Main Authors: Woo, Yeon Duk, Jeong, Dongjin, Chung, Doo Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 01.05.2021; 한국분자세포생물학회
• Subjects: Humans; Macrophages, Alveolar - metabolism; Minireview; 생물학; alveolar macrophage; development; fine-tuning; GM-CSF; immunological functions; immunometabolism; ontogeny
• ISSN: 1016-8478; 0219-1032
• DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2021.0058

Macrophages residing in various tissue types are unique in terms of their anatomical locations, ontogenies, developmental pathways, gene expression patterns, and immunological functions. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) reside in the alveolar lumen of the lungs and serve as the first line of defense for the respiratory tract. The immunological functions of AMs are implicated in the pathogenesis of various pulmonary diseases such as allergic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), viral infection, and bacterial infection. Thus, the molecular mechanisms driving the development and function of AMs have been extensively investigated. In this review article, we discuss the roles of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in AM development, and provide an overview of the anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory functions of AMs in various contexts. Notably, we examine the relationships between the metabolic status of AMs and their development processes and functions. We hope that this review will provide new information and insight into AM development and function.