Macrophages and control of granulomatous inflammation in tuberculosis

Abstract

The granuloma that forms in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis must be carefully balanced in terms of immune responses to provide sufficient immune cell activation to inhibit the growth of the bacilli, yet modulate the inflammation to prevent pathology. There are likely many scenarios by which this balance can be reached, given the complexity of the immune responses induced by M. tuberculosis. In this review, we focus on the key role of the macrophage in balancing inflammation in the granuloma. © 2011 Society for Mucosal Immunology.