Abstract
Monocytes represent a heterogeneous population of blood cells that provide a link between innate and adaptive immunity. The unique potential of monocytes as both precursors (e.g., of macrophages) and effector cells (as phagocytes or cytotoxic cells) makes them an interesting research and therapeutic target. At the site of a tumor, monocytes/macrophages constitute a major population of infiltrating leukocytes and, depending on the type of tumor, may play a dual role as either a bad or good indicator for cancer recovery. The functional activity of monocytes and macrophages derived from them is tightly regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of small regulatory miRNA in monocyte formation, maturation and function in health and cancer development. Additionally, signatures of miRNA-based monocyte subsets and the influence of exogenous miRNA generated in the tumor environment on the function of monocytes are discussed.
Highlights
Circulating monocytes are a heterogenous population of cells divided into subpopulations according to differences in the expression of surface markers, CD14 and CD16 in humans and Ly6C, CCR2, and CX3 CR1 in mice [5]
This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of small regulatory miRNA in monocyte formation, maturation and function in health and cancer development
Monocytes are generated from stem cells (HSC, hematopoietic stem cell) in the bone marrow via four intermediate maturational stages: multipotent progenitor (MPP), common myeloid progenitor (CMP), granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (GMP) and macrophage progenitor (MP)
Summary
Monocytes are highly plastic cells that link innate and adaptive immunity. In humans, they usually constitute less than 10% of all leukocytes [1] and are the largest white cells in the blood, measuring between 16 and 22 μm in diameter. Kidney-shaped nucleus located in the center of the cytoplasm. They originate in the bone marrow from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells via a series of progenitor cells. Monocytes are recruited immediately to the infected, injured, or cancerous tissue, where they differentiate into macrophages.
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