Monocitos, macrófagos y células dendríticas en homeostasis y patología

Monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells are immune cells that play essential roles in the body's defense against pathogens. They are commonly characterized as professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Additionally, macrophages initiate inflammation, destroy pathogens, and are responsible for maintaining tissue homeostasis, adapting dynamically to various signals from the microenvironment. On the other hand, dendritic cells represent the nexus between innate and adaptive immunity.

In this brief review, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells belonging to the immune system will be studied in regard to their origin and homeostasis, nomenclature and classification, physiology, mechanisms by which they perform their functions, and their contribution to the pathogenesis of various diseases.

Advances in the basic characterization of monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells have allowed for understanding them better as major factors in immunity and the progression of inflammatory diseases, cancer, obesity, fibrosis, or autoimmune diseases. Strategies to modify their polarization or modulate their activity offer new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of these diseases.