Although macrophages were first described by Elie Metchnikoff in 1882, plenty of mysteries are still associated with the cell type. Indeed, while macrophages were once considered simply “garbage trucks” of the immune system due to their phagocytic property, their substantial and multifaceted contribution to immunological responses and homeostasis is becoming more apparent. Macrophages can produce a wide range of cytokines and chemokines to influence the immune response toward healing or inflammation. In as such, they possess a great deal of plasticity to respond with either pro- or anti-inflammatory signals depending on the environmental milieu. Moreover, researchers are beginning to turn to macrophages to assist chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in various immunotherapies.

This webinar is presented by Anne Lodge, Chief Scientific Officer of Astarte Biologics.