Table 1.
Diversity of macrophages
| Tissue | Specific macrophage name | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Bone | Osteoclast | Bone remodelling and providing a stem cell niche |
| Bone marrow macrophage | Erythropoiesis | |
| Brain | Microglial cell | Neuronal survival and connectivity, and repair after injury |
| Epidermis | Langerhans cell | Immune surveillance |
| Eye | NA | Vascular remodelling |
| Intestine | Crypt macrophage | Immune surveillance |
| Kidney | NA | Ductal development |
| Liver | Kupffer cell | Clearance of debris from blood and liver tissue regeneration after damage; liver development? |
| Mammary gland | NA | Branching morphogenesis and ductal development |
| Ovary | NA | Steroid hormone production and ovulation |
| Pancreas | NA | Islet development |
| Testis | NA | Steroid hormone production; Leydig-cell development? |
| Uterus | Uterine DC | Angiogenesis and decidualization |
| Uterine macrophage | Cervical ripening |
DC, dendritic cell; NA, not applicable.