Macrophages

This Review discusses the susceptibility of the fetal immune system to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the consequences on pancreatic islet development, which might influence the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals affected by IUGR. The potential for immunomodulation as a therapeutic approach to treat IUGR-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus will also be discussed.

Macrophages are the gatekeepers of intestinal immune homeostasis. This Review discusses the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the differentiation and function of intestinal macrophages in homeostasis and inflammation, and their role in resolving the inflammatory process.

Fibrosis is a hallmark of several cardiac pathologies and its underlying mechanisms are still poorly defined. Here the authors show that macrophage hypoxia signaling following transverse aortic constriction in mice suppresses the activation of cardiac fibroblasts by secreting oncostatin M.

In this Review, Greg Lemke explains how macrophages are able to sense and respond to dead and dying cells. The author discusses the physiological implications of such macrophage activity.

Control of macrophage adhesion and phenotype is important to biomaterial applications. Here, the authors report on the use of bisphosphonate coated gold nanoparticles by magnesium coordination for the controlled adhesion and polarisation of macrophages in vitro and in vivo and controlled cell release.