The Role of Macrophages and Alveolar Epithelial Cells in the Development of ARDS

Acute lung injury (ALI) usually causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or even death in critical ill patients. Immune cell infiltration in inflamed lungs is an important hallmark of ARDS. Macrophages are a type of immune cell that participate in the entire pathogenic trajectory of ARDS and most prominently via their interactions with lung alveolar epithelial cells (AECs). In the early stage of ARDS, classically activated macrophages secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines to clearance of the pathogens which may damage alveolar AECs cell structure and result in cell death. Paradoxically, in late stage of ARDS, anti-inflammatory cytokines secreted by alternatively activated macrophages dampen the inflammation response and promote epithelial regeneration and alveolar structure remodeling. In this review, we discuss the important role of macrophages and AECs in the progression of ARDS.