Promising landscape for regulating macrophage polarization: epigenetic viewpoint.

Dexi Zhou,Lu Chen,Kui Yang,Jian Zuo,Jiajie Luan,Hui Jiang,Wen Zhang,Zhenyu Xu

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.17027

Abstract

Macrophages are critical myeloid cells with the hallmark of phenotypic heterogeneity and functional plasticity. Macrophages phenotypes are commonly described as classically-activated M1 and alternatively-activated M2 macrophages which play an essential role in the tissues homeostasis and diseases pathogenesis. Alternations of macrophage polarization and function states require precise regulation of target-gene expression. Emerging data demonstrate that epigenetic mechanisms and transcriptional factors are becoming increasingly appreciated in the orchestration of macrophage polarization in response to local environmental signals. This review is to focus on the advanced concepts of epigenetics changes involved with the macrophage polarization, including microRNAs, DNA methylation and histone modification, which are responsible for the altered cellular signaling and signature genes expression during M1 or M2 polarization. Eventually, the persistent investigation and understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in tissue macrophage polarization and function will enhance the potential to develop novel therapeutic targets for various diseases.

Highlights

Monocyte-macrophage lineage derives from myeloid precursors in bone marrow and subsequently develop as tissues-specific macrophages in response to local microenvironment signals [1, 2]
This review is to focus on the advanced concepts of epigenetics changes involved with the macrophage polarization, including microRNAs, DNA methylation and histone modification, which are responsible for the altered cellular signaling and signature genes expression during M1 or M2 polarization
Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs) expression profiles are significantly altered in macrophages exposure to differently incubated conditions, which evokes the distinct M1/M2 functional responses [132]

Summary

Introduction

Monocyte-macrophage lineage derives from myeloid precursors in bone marrow and subsequently develop as tissues-specific macrophages in response to local microenvironment signals [1, 2]. This review is to focus on the advanced concepts of epigenetics changes involved with the macrophage polarization, including microRNAs, DNA methylation and histone modification, which are responsible for the altered cellular signaling and signature genes expression during M1 or M2 polarization.

Results

Conclusion