New insights into intestinal macrophages in necrotizing enterocolitis: the multi-functional role and promising therapeutic application

Jiaqi Wei; Zhaoli Meng; Zhenyu Li; Dan Dang; Hui Wu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1261010

New insights into intestinal macrophages in necrotizing enterocolitis: the multi-functional role and promising therapeutic application

Front Immunol. 2023 Sep 28:14:1261010. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1261010. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jiaqi Wei¹, Zhaoli Meng², Zhenyu Li¹, Dan Dang¹, Hui Wu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neonatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
² Department of Translational Medicine Research Institute, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory intestinal disease that profoundly affects preterm infants. Currently, the pathogenesis of NEC remains controversial, resulting in limited treatment strategies. The preterm infants are thought to be susceptible to gut inflammatory disorders because of their immature immune system. In early life, intestinal macrophages (IMφs), crucial components of innate immunity, demonstrate functional plasticity and diversity in intestinal development, resistance to pathogens, maintenance of the intestinal barrier, and regulation of gut microbiota. When the stimulations of environmental, dietary, and bacterial factors interrupt the homeostatic processes of IMφs, they will lead to intestinal disease, such as NEC. This review focuses on the IMφs related pathogenesis in NEC, discusses the multi-functional roles and relevant molecular mechanisms of IMφs in preterm infants, and explores promising therapeutic application for NEC.

Keywords: inflammation; intestinal macrophage; macrophage polarization; necrotizing enterocolitis; preterm infant.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* / microbiology
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Newborn, Diseases*
Infant, Premature
Macrophages

Grants and funding

The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation Project of China (Grant No. 82271737).