An over view on pulmonary alveolar macrophage

The pulmonary alveolar macrophage is the resident mononuclear phagocyte in the lung. It is a versatile cell. It has been recognized as a scavenger cell in the removal of non-cellular material in the alveoli. Its role in the destruction of microorganisms has been well established. More recently the participation of the alveolar macrophage in inflammatory and immune mechanisms have been unravelled. The pulmonary alveolar macrophage plays an important part in the afferent limb of the immune response being responsible for the presentation of antigen to the immunocompetent cells.