Figure 2.

Schematic representing macrophage plasticity in wound healing. As the wound healing stages progress and the wound microenvironment changes, M1 pro-inflammatory macrophages undergo a phenotypic switch to an M2 anti-inflammatory and proregenerative state, which stimulates tissue regeneration. Thus, macrophages regulate the transition from the inflammatory to the proliferative phase of healing. Furthermore, macrophage phenotypic switch from M1 to M2 effects scar formation by inducing fibroblast proliferation, myofibroblast differentiation, synthesis of different MMPs, and various types of collagen.