Progress on interaction between alveolar macrophage and pathogen

Lung is a very special organ, which is always stimulated by non-self substances and various microorganisms from the external environment.Alveolar macrophages play an important role in the body′s anti-infection process.After the body is infected by pathogen, macrophages can not only phagocytize and kill the pathogen, but also further process and present antigens to activate nearby macrophages and activate the body′s acquired immune response.Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ can activate macrophages.In recent years, studies have shown that apoptosis has a certain effect on inhibiting the reproduction of intracellular pathogens.Intracellular pathogens also inhibit macrophage apoptosis to escape the killing of macrophages.At the same time, autophagy of macrophages has also been proved to be an important pathogen elimination pathway.This article summarizes the recent researches to provide some references for its further study. Key words: Macrophages, alveolar; Autophagy; Apoptosis; Immune evade