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Macrophage - Wikipedia

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Macrophages (abbreviated as Mφ, MΦ or MP) (Greek: large eaters, from Greek μακρός (makrós) = large, φαγεῖν (phagein) = to eat) are a type of white blood cell of the innate immune system that engulf and digest pathogens, such as cancer cells, microbes, cellular debris, and foreign substances, which do not have proteins that are specific to healthy body cells on their surface.[1][2] This process is called phagocytosis, which acts to defend the host against infection and injury.[3] Macrophages are found in essentially all tissues,[4] where they patrol for potential pathogens by amoeboid movement. They take various forms (with various names) throughout the body (e.g., histiocytes, Kupffer cells, alveolar macrophages, microglia, and others), but all are part of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Besides phagocytosis, they play a critical role in nonspecific defense (innate immunity) and also help initiate specific defense mechanisms (adaptive immunity) by recruiting other immune cells such a

Macrophage - Wikipedia Jump to content From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Type of white blood cell For the ecological classification, see Macrophage (ecology) . "MΦ" redirects here; not to be confused with M0 , MO , or MØ . Macrophage Cytology of a macrophage with typical features; Wright stain Details Pronunciation /ˈmakrə(ʊ)feɪdʒ/ System Immune system Function Phagocytosis Identifiers Latin macrophagocytus Acronym(s) M φ , MΦ MeSH D008264 TH H2.00.03.0.01007 FMA 63261 Anatomical terms of microanatomy [ edit on Wikidata ] Macrophages ( / ˈ m æ k r oʊ f eɪ dʒ / ; abbreviated Mφ , MΦ or MP )

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