Affiliation:
1. The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Abstract
Cells are the smallest units that make up living organisms, which constantly undergo the processes of proliferation, differentiation, senescence and death. Dead cells need to be removed in time to maintain the homeostasis of the organism and keep it healthy. This process is called efferocytosis. If the process fails, this may cause different types of diseases. More and more evidence suggests that a faulty efferocytosis process is closely related to the pathological processes of respiratory diseases. In this review, we will first introduce the process and the related mechanisms of efferocytosis of the macrophage. Secondly, we will propose some methods that can regulate the function of efferocytosis at different stages of the process. Next, we will discuss the role of efferocytosis in different lung diseases and the related treatment approaches. Finally, we will summarize the drugs that have been applied in clinical practice that can act upon efferocytosis, in order to provide new ideas for the treatment of lung diseases.
Funder
fellowship of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
Norman Bethune program of Jilin University
Medical Basic Research Innovation Center of Airway Disease in North China, Ministry of Education
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis