Immunological consequences of macrophage-mediated clearance of apoptotic cells. Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Apoptosis and the rapid clearance of apoptotic cells by professional or nonprofessional phagocytes are normal and coordinated processes that ensure controlled cell growth with a nonpathological outcome. Defects in clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages have serious consequences often resulting in autoimmune disorders. Phagocyte-derived immunoregulatory cytokines such as Interleukin-12 and Interleukin-10 play pivotal roles in the etiology and pathology of many autoimmune diseases. Elucidation of the apoptotic cell-mediated signaling mechanisms involved in the control of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during cell turnovers under normal and pathological conditions may help us counter the cytokine dysregulation and control inappropriate host immune reactions in pathological situations such as autoimmunity, infectious diseases, graft-versus-host disease, and cancer.

publication date

  • February 7, 2005

Research

keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Macrophages
  • Phagocytosis

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 25444513110

PubMed ID

  • 15655362

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 4

issue

  • 2