Crosstalk between macrophages and diverse immune cells accelerates the development of acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe pulmonary condition characterized by a high mortality rate. Its pathogenesis is complex, involving intricate interactions among various immune cells. Macrophages, as central players in the immune system, are critically involved in the onset, progression, and outcome of ALI. Extensive evidence demonstrates that macrophages engage in crosstalk with immune cells such as lymphocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DCs). Macrophages affect the recruitment, activation, and function of these immune cells through the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and the expression of cell surface molecules. This influence thereby exacerbates the inflammatory response in ALI. A comprehensive understanding of how macrophages communicate with other immune cells helps us better understand how ALI develops. And this understanding also provides a theoretical basis for creating new immunotherapeutic methods. In this review, a systematic search was conducted using the keywords ‘ALI, macrophages, T cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, intercellular crosstalk, immune function’ across six databases, including PubMed, SCI, CNKI, Wanfang Medicine, VIP Database, and X-MOL, covering literature from 2005 to 2024. Over 50 relevant studies were retrieved and reviewed, focusing on the crosstalk between macrophages and T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DCs) in the regulation of ALI, aiming to elucidate how these interactions contribute to ALI development.