Inflammation and wound healing: the role of the macrophage - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Inflammation and wound healing: the role of the macrophage

Timothy J Koh et al. Expert Rev Mol Med. 2011.

Abstract

The macrophage is a prominent inflammatory cell in wounds, but its role in healing remains incompletely understood. Macrophages have many functions in wounds, including host defence, the promotion and resolution of inflammation, the removal of apoptotic cells, and the support of cell proliferation and tissue restoration following injury. Recent studies suggest that macrophages exist in several different phenotypic states within the healing wound and that the influence of these cells on each stage of repair varies with the specific phenotype. Although the macrophage is beneficial to the repair of normally healing wounds, this pleotropic cell type may promote excessive inflammation or fibrosis under certain circumstances. Emerging evidence suggests that macrophage dysfunction is a component of the pathogenesis of nonhealing and poorly healing wounds. As a result of advances in the understanding of this multifunctional cell, the macrophage continues to be an attractive therapeutic target, both to reduce fibrosis and scarring, and to improve healing of chronic wounds.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1. The pattern of leukocyte infiltration into wounds

Inflammatory cells are present during each of the phases of wound repair, represented here as hemostasis (yellow panel), early inflammation (light pink panel), late inflammation (medium pink panel) and resolution/remodeling (blue panel). The relative density of the four most prominent types of leukocytes in wounds (mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes) is depicted. While neutrophils and lymphocytes disappear, low numbers of resident mast cells and macrophages are present during the lengthy remodeling phase.

Figure 2

Figure 2. The likely pattern of macrophage function during the course of wound healing

In the early wound, monocytes and resident macrophages become activated, undertake phagocytosis of microbes and perhaps early neutrophils, and produce proinflammatory mediators and chemoattractants. Macrophages also assist in the induction of apoptosis in neutrophils, thus turning the wound towards a non-inflammatory, reparative state. In the later phases of wound repair, macrophages ingest apoptotic neutrophils, producing growth factors to support tissue restoration. In the very late stages, as the wound resolves, macrophages may guide tissue remodeling by producing factors to promote capillary regression and collagen remodeling.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Zhang X, Mosser DM. Macrophage activation by endogenous danger signals. J Pathol. 2008;214:161–178. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sen CK. Wound healing essentials: let there be oxygen. Wound Repair Regen. 2009;17:1–18. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ross R, Odland G. Human wound repair. II. Inflammatory cells, epithelial-mesenchymal interrelations, and fibrogenesis. J Cell Biol. 1968;39:152–168. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Artuc M, et al. Mast cells and their mediators in cutaneous wound healing--active participants or innocent bystanders? Exp Dermatol. 1999;8:1–16. - PubMed
    1. Barbul A, et al. Wound healing in nude mice: a study on the regulatory role of lymphocytes in fibroplasia. Surgery. 1989;105:764–769. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources