View source for Macrophages

Macrophages (Greek meaning 'big eater') are the largest type of [[White blood cell|white blood cell]] and, as such, play a key role in immune response. 

Macrophages start life as monocytes produced by stem cells in bone marrow. If activated by [[Cytokines|cytokines]], inflammatory messenger models produced by [[T cells|T cells]], monocytes differentiate into macrophages<ref>1. Dr Ananya Mandal M. Macrophage Function [Internet]. News-Medical.net. 2017 [cited 5 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Macrophage-Function.aspx</ref>. Some of these are then used to carry out [[Phagocytosis|phagocytosis]] on invading [[Pathogen|pathogens]], a form of non-specific immunity while others are used to remove dead/necrotic cells from the host<ref>2. Macrophage | ASU - Ask A Biologist [Internet]. Askabiologist.asu.edu. 2017 [cited 5 December 2017]. Available from: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/macrophage</ref>. The macrophages then pull apart the proteins of [[Pathogen|pathogens]] to present them on their surface membrane, alerting the immune system to the infection and allowing [[T-cells|T cells]] to carry out their function. Macrophages also produce toxic chemicals to kill surrounding cells and thus preventing pathogenic reproduction<ref>3. T cells and macrophages [Internet]. Bristol.ac.uk. 2017 [cited 5 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/cellmolmed/air/ourresearch/project.tcell_mp.html</ref>. 

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