Pulmonary and thoracic macrophage subpopulations and clearance of particles from the lung

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.929717· OSTI ID:6758369

Lehnert, B E ^[1]

---

1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

Pulmonary macrophages consist of several subpopulations that can be defined by their anatomical locations as well as by other criteria. In addition to the well-known alveolar macrophages that reside on the alveolar surface, pulmonary macrophages also occur in the conducting airways, in various pulmonary interstitial regions, and, in some mammalian species, in the lung's intravascular compartment. Other thoracic macrophages of relevance to pulmonary defense and some lung disease processes are the pleural macrophages resident in the pleural space and macrophages present in regional lymph nodes that receive lymphatic drainage from the lung. Of the above subpopulations of pulmonary and thoracic macrophages, the alveolar macrophages have received the most experimental attention in the context of the pulmonary clearance and retention of deposited particles. Accordingly, less information is currently available regarding the roles other pulmonary and thoracic populations of macrophages may play in the removal of particles from the lower respiratory tract and associated tissue compartments. This report provides an overview of the various subpopulations of pulmonary and thoracic macrophages, as defined by their anatomical locations. The known and postulated roles of macrophages in the pulmonary clearance and retention of particles are reviewed, with particular emphasis on macrophage-associated processes involved in the pulmonary clearance of relatively insoluble particles. 270 refs., 22 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 6758369
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN EVHPAZ; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
550300* -- Cytology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
CLEARANCE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
EXCRETION
LUNG CLEARANCE
MACROPHAGES
PHAGOCYTES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SOMATIC CELLS