title: Role of the reticuloendothelial system in the pathogenesis of organ damage.
abstract: Macrophages ingest foreign materials, effete and damaged tissues, and bacterial products. They also secrete biologically active products which promote and regulate host inflammatory responses. The balance between these macrophage activities may lead to the development of an effective and self-limiting inflammatory response or one that results in tissue damage and potentially in organ failure.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Experimental Surgery, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lundsgaard-Hansen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis