The role of macrophages in bronchial asthma and research progress

Affected by microenvironment change macrophages can be divided into classical activated macrophages (M1) and nonclassical activated macrophages (M2). M1 macrophages can release such as TNF-α and IL-1β proinflammatory factor to aggravate inflammation, meanwhile the increased polarization can play a role of anti-inflammatory.M2 macrophages are divided into M2a, M2b and M2c.M2a and M2b macrophages mainly produce inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13, M2c type has a strong phagocytosis and it mainly produce anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10.Cytokines and chemokines and immune regulating cell affects the balance of the M1 and M2 macrophages.The different polarization of macrophages play an important role in bronchial asthma.Now the related research of macrophages and bronchial asthma were reviewed as follows. Key words: Macrophage; Bronchial asthma; Effect; Polarization