title: Alveolar macrophage in the driver's seat.
abstract: Although alveolar macrophages are normally quiescent to prevent damaging the alveoli, in this issue of Immunity, Takabayshi et al. (2006) demonstrate that alveolar macrophages can self-regulate their function on demand to mount an appropriate immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bart N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Lambrecht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology