Macrophages play important roles in biology and pathology
including those in innate immune responses to pathogens, tumor cells, and
apoptotic cells of the host.
Macrophages also have a unique phenotype, known as
“macrophage activation,” which refers to changes their properties in response
to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), various cytokines, hormones,
and other factors acting as both endogenous and
exogenous stimuli,
which changes occur through activation processes.
Among activated-macrophage phenotypes, the production of
reactive oxygen species (O2- and H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and pro-inflammatory
cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)
[8-11] is the major, as well as an important, function of macrophages to exert
pivotal roles in the body and to maintain homeostasis.
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