Macrophages, Dust, and Pulmonary Diseases

In the overall protection of the lung the alveolar macrophage plays a pivotal role, keeping the alveoli clean and responding on demand with a rapid outpouring of new cells into the air sacs. But as the authors look at the macrophage today we are faced with a dilemma. They perceive the dual potential of the cell; one, the great protector engulfing bacteria, initiating and modulating inflammatory responses; the other, a potential destroyer secreting proteases and stimulating fibroblasts to secrete collage. This new doctors' dilemma is the theme of this paper, adaptive responses largely beneficial and extrinsic responses leading to pulmonary disease.