SECRETORY AND REGULATORY PRODUCTS OF MACROPHAGES IN THE IMMUNE AND INFLAMMATORY REACTIONS

Monocytes and macrophages are the constituent cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) with the essential participation in most of t he immune and inflammatory reactions. Their functional and metabolic a ctivities increase after their contact with activatory stimuli of vari ous origin. Activated macrophages release cytotoxic factors and differ ent bioregulatory compounds which participate in a number of physiolog ic and pathophysiologic processes in a body. In the present paper the authors review the most important secretory and bioregulatory products and inter-mediates (reactive oxygen and nitrogen metabolites, bioacti ve lipides, cytokines, and growth factors) which are released by activ ated macrophages and monocytes.