Inflammation and wound healing: the role of the macrophage

Abstract

The macrophage is a prominent inflammatory cell in wounds, but its role in healing remains incompletely understood. Macrophages have been described to have many functions in wounds, including host defense, the promotion and resolution of inflammation, the removal of apoptotic cells, and the support of cell proliferation and tissue restoration following injury. Recent studies suggest that macrophages exist in several different phenotypic states within the healing wound, and that the influence of these cells on each stage of repair varies with the specific phenotypes. While the macrophage is beneficial to the repair of normally healing wounds, this pleotropic cell type may promote excessive inflammation and/or fibrosis in certain circumstances. Emerging evidence suggests that macrophage dysfunction is a component of the pathogenesis of non-healing and poorly healing wounds. Due to advances in the understanding of this multi-functional cell, the macrophage continues to be an attractive therapeutic target both to reduce fibrosis and scarring, and to improve healing of chronic wounds.

Computational Approach To Characterize Causative Factors and Molecular Indicators of Chronic Wound Inflammation

“…Although the clinical study by Hawksworth et al (19) did not report results for TGF-b and PDGF, our computational findings may provide motivation for experimental and clinical testing of these growth factors as additional diagnostic or predictive indicators of chronic inflammation. The importance of macrophage flux control elucidated in this study is consistent with the existing view of macrophage dynamics (i.e., monocyte migration, macrophage phenotype conversion, and signaling) as the main driver of effective continuation and resolution of inflammation (61,70,71). The migrating blood monocytes are polarized into a wide spectrum of macrophage phenotypes, and the two ends of that spectrum can be characterized as pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes (similar to the "classically activated," or M1, phenotype induced in vitro by bacterial LPS and IFN-g) and anti-inflammatory phenotypes (similar to the "alternatively activated," or M2, phenotype induced in vitro by IL-4 and IL-13), respectively.…”

“…The possibility of their targeted manipulation has naturally been the subject of extensive investigations (59)(60)(61). Because macrophages are the major producers of cytokines with pro-or anti-inflammatory properties (41,59,61), any significant disruption in macrophage behavior may be expected to alter the balance of cytokines in the inflammatory milieu. Elevated levels of macrophage infiltration can lead to wound fibrosis (59).…”

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi ( Aroeira) leaves oil attenuates inflammatory responses in cutaneous wound healing in mice

“…It provides protection against invading pathogens and remove damaged tissues 20 . However, prolonged inflammatory response lead to a delay in the progress through the physiological stages of wound healing 12 .…”

“…Thus, the development of therapies based on the attenuation of inflammation response during wound healing will lead to the development of efficient therapeutic approaches to improve the quality of repair [12][13] .…”

Effect of red propolis on hamster cheek pouch angiogenesis in a new sponge implant model

“…sponge implant) chronifies the inflammatory process. The condition is further consolidated by the presence of angiogenesis and macrophages which in turn release inflammatory cytokines, thereby prolonging it 26 .…”