Scan Electron Microsc 1984 Jan 01;Pt 4:2045-58.

Mononuclear phagocytes and collagen matrices--a review.

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Mononuclear phagocytes comprise populations of both stationary and wandering cells in vivo, and play many important roles, including major ones in host defence and the regulation of the immune response. They also interact with fibroblasts in the production and degradation of collagen and are therefore responsible in part for the modelling of connective tissue. Motile macrophages in vivo can use this connective tissue as a substrate for their migration, moving over and through dense collagenous matrix in the process. They adhere readily to collagenous substrates in vitro but there are distinct differences between the morphology and behaviour of macrophages on these substrates and those on glass or plastic. The locomotory behaviour of macrophages can be manipulated in vitro by the use of MIF (migration inhibition factor), a soluble lymphokine produced by sensitised T-lymphocytes, which inhibits macrophage motility. MIF also affects the morphology of macrophages and their behaviour on collagenous substrates. When their motility is suppressed by MIF macrophages become activated to enhanced levels of phagocytic, cytotoxic and microbicidal activities, but lose their marked propensity to invade collagenous matrices.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: mif