Abstract
Human monocytes are divided in three major populations; classical (CD14+CD16−), non-classical (CD14dimCD16+), and intermediate (CD14+CD16+). Each of these subsets is distinguished from each other by the expression of distinct surface markers and by their functions in homeostasis and disease. In this review, we discuss the most up-to-date phenotypic classification of human monocytes that has been greatly aided by the application of novel single-cell transcriptomic and mass cytometry technologies. Furthermore, we shed light on the role of these plastic immune cells in already recognized and emerging human chronic diseases, such as obesity, atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung fibrosis, lung cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Our aim is to provide an insight into the contribution of human monocytes to the progression of these diseases and highlight their candidacy as potential therapeutic cell targets.
Highlights
Human monocytes were originally defined by their distinctive morphology at the beginning of the previous century by Paul Ehrlich and Ilya Metchnikoff [reviewed in [1]]
Two monocyte subsets were identified in the bloodstream by flow cytometry and intravital microscopy; a short-lived Gr-1+CCR2+CX3CR1lo which migrates to tissues during inflammation and a Gr-1−CCR2−CX3CR1hi one, which carries out CX3CR1-dependent patroling of the vasculature during homeostasis [7,8,9]
We decided to focus on chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diet-induced syndromes, respiratory diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions as case studies for the heterogeneity and plasticity that these cells exhibit in humans (Figure 2)
Summary
Edited by: Pierre Guermonprez, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France. Subsets and Phenotypes in Major Chronic Inflammatory Diseases. Human monocytes are divided in three major populations; classical (CD14+CD16−), non-classical (CD14dimCD16+), and intermediate (CD14+CD16+). Each of these subsets is distinguished from each other by the expression of distinct surface markers and by their functions in homeostasis and disease. We discuss the most up-to-date phenotypic classification of human monocytes that has been greatly aided by the application of novel single-cell transcriptomic and mass cytometry technologies. Our aim is to provide an insight into the contribution of human monocytes to the progression of these diseases and highlight their candidacy as potential therapeutic cell targets
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