Summary

Coming soon...

Key Points

• 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