T cell signaling of macrophage function in inflammatory disease.
Macrophages play diverse roles in episodic T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, function as accessory cells for T cell activation, as pro-inflammatory cells, as effector cells which mediate tissue damage, and as anti-inflammatory cells which promote wound healing. In addition to the many roles of T cell-derived cytokines in differentially modulating these diverse macrophage activities, research over the last few years has demonstrated that contact-dependent signaling which occurs during T cell-macrophage adhesion is a critical triggering event in the activation of macrophage function. Substantial research emphasis has been placed on CD40 as a mediator of contact dependent signaling. However, other membrane-anchored receptor:ligand pairs may also contribute to the stimulation of macrophage function. This is a brief review of the rapidly expanding, but still incomplete, knowledge of how T cells, through both contact-dependent and cytokine signals, regulate macrophage function during inflammatory disease.
Stout
R D
RD
Department of Microbiology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Box 70579, East Tennessee State, University Johnson City, TN 37614-0579, USA. stout@access.etsu-tn.edu
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D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines