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PMID: 22025054 Published · epublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Transcriptional regulation of macrophage polarization: enabling diversity with identity.

Nature reviews. Immunology ·Vol. 11 ·No. 11 ·2011-10-25 ·Pages 750-61

Lawrence T, Natoli G

Abstract

In terms of both phenotype and function, macrophages have remarkable heterogeneity, which reflects the specialization of tissue-resident macrophages in microenvironments as different as liver, brain and bone. Also, marked changes in the activity and gene expression programmes of macrophages can occur when they come into contact with invading microorganisms or injured tissues. Therefore, the macrophage lineage includes a remarkable diversity of cells with different functions and functional states that are specified by a complex interplay between microenvironmental signals and a hardwired differentiation programme that determines macrophage identity. In this Review, we summarize the current knowledge of transcriptional and chromatin-mediated control of macrophage polarization in physiology and disease.

MeSH Terms
Gene Expression Regulation Humans Interferon Regulatory Factors/metabolism Macrophages/classification,immunology,metabolism PPAR gamma/metabolism Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics Protein Binding STAT1 Transcription Factor/metabolism STAT6 Transcription Factor/metabolism
Chemicals
IRF5 protein, human Interferon Regulatory Factors PPAR gamma STAT1 Transcription Factor STAT6 Transcription Factor interferon regulatory factor-4
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Lawrence Toby
Centre d'Immunologie Marseille-Luminy, Parc Scientifique & Technologique de Luminy, Case 906, F-13288 Marseille, France. lawrence@ciml.univ-mrs.fr
Natoli Gioacchino
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Article Info
Journal
Nature reviews. Immunology
Abbr.
Nat Rev Immunol
ISSN
1474-1741
DOI
10.1038/nri3088
Email
lawrence@ciml.univ-mrs.fr
Published
2011-10-25
Epub
2011-00-25
Pages
750-61
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
101124169
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/nri3088 View journal details
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