Modulation of Macrophage Activation

The aim of this review is to focus on macrophage polarization and its mechanisms during the course of an immune response, leaving the issues of the heterogeneity and plasticity due to tissue-specific signals during homeostasis to some recent excellent reviews. We will describe how macrophage phenotypes can be integrated into the design of a new generation of immunomodulatory molecules/compounds and therapeutic strategies (eg, therapy of solid tumors), rebalancing the immune responses that have been altered by a pathological condition.