Our work identifies previously unrecognized functional heterogeneity in tissue-resident interstitial macrophages. We have identified ten macrophage subsets, each thought to specifically contribute to recruiting and organizing cell types within tissues. Moreover, our findings suggest the diversity and division of labor extend to other macrophage populations previously considered homogeneous.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Gibbings, S. L. et al. Three unique interstitial macrophages in the murine lung at steady state. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 57, 66–76 (2017). This study performed deep sequencing on three distinct IMs based on cell-surface markers, aligned IM genes across tissues, and demonstrated classical macrophage functions.
Aegerter, H., Lambrecht, B. N. & Jakubzick, C. V. Biology of lung macrophages in health and disease. Immunity 55, 1564–1580 (2022). This review highlights the heterogeneity and functionality of pulmonary macrophages and provides scRNA-seq and protein expression data that define lung mononuclear phagocytes.
Lee, S. H. et al. Dermis resident macrophages orchestrate localized ILC2 eosinophil circuitries to promote non-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis. Nat. Commun. 14, 7852 (2023). This study targets specific chemokine-expressing skin IMs and demonstrates their functional role in skin disease.
Mould, K. J. et al. Airspace macrophages and monocytes exist in transcriptionally distinct subsets in healthy adults. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 203, 946–956 (2021). This study showed the extent of airspace macrophage subset heterogeneity in healthy human lungs via scRNA-seq.
Li, X. et al. ScRNA-seq expression of IFI27 and APOC2 identifies four alveolar macrophage superclusters in healthy BALF. Life Sci, Alliance 5, e202201458 (2022). This study supports the findings in ref. 4 and identified 12 functionally distinct alveolar macrophage subsets such as various chemokine-expressing AM subsets.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Li, X. et al. Coordinated chemokine expression defines macrophage subsets across tissues. Nat. Immunol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01826-9 (2024).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
The hidden functional diversity of macrophages. Nat Immunol 25, 953–954 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01832-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01832-x
- Springer Nature America, Inc.