Fig. 1. The summary of alveolar macrophage functions.
Alveolar macrophages (AMs) play important roles in the clear of airborne foreign particles/pathogens, phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, inhibition of monocyte/neutrophil recruitment, proliferation/differentiation of type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC II) (epithelial progenitor cells), repair of epithelial barrier by junctional sealing and resolution of inflammation.