Figure 3.

Macrophages have opposing effects in two pathologies of the central nervous system: multiple sclerosis and glioblastoma. In multiple sclerosis (A), macrophages exert a M1-like phenotype and thereby attack and destroy the myelin sheath and damage the axons in the CNS. In glioblastoma (B), these cells adopt the opposite M2-like phenotype favoring an anti-inflammatory milieu. Consequently, tumorigenesis, tumor-spreading, and angiogenesis is promoted whereas cytotoxic T-cells are inhibited. CNS: central nervous system, TAMs: tumor associated macrophages.