Immunobiology of the Macrophage

Book excerpt: Immunobiology of the Macrophage presents an account of the state of knowledge of the immunobiology of the macrophage. The book's contributors—immunologists of diverse scientific and geographic backgrounds—have been encouraged to give personal accounts of developments in their special fields of interest as well as critical surveys of the backgrounds leading to these developments. The book begins with a study on the functions of macrophages in the initiation and regulation of antibody responses in vitro. This is followed by separate chapters on topics such as the role of macrophages in making antigen more immunogenic and less tolerogenic; functional distinctions between macrophages at different sites; and the role of the macrophage in antigen recognition by T lymphocytes. Subsequent chapters examine interactions between macrophages and lymphocytes in the production of interferon and other mediators of cellular immunity; macrophage cell lines and their uses in immunobiology; and cytotoxic macrophages in allograft rejection.