Macrophages
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- Macrophages
- Innate immune cell
- Phagocyte
- Foreign pathogens are put into phagosomes, which fuse with lysosomes to break down the pathogen
- Presents antigens
- Bridge between innate and adaptive immune response
- Phagocytosed and digested antigens are presented on cell surface for recognition by T-cells
- Macrophages can present antigens, but Dendritic Cells are more likely to do so
- Coordinates (innate) immune response via release of cytokines
- Cytokines are secreted proteins that signal to other immune cells
- Macrophages release cytokines to increase or decrease inflammation, and recruit other immune cells to affected sites