Monocyte phenotypes: when local education counts

Abstract

Monocytes are a heterogeneous population of phagocytic cells that are generated in the bone marrow and released into the bloodstream. There are two main monocyte subsets in mice: “inflammatory” monocytes that are Ly6Chi CCR2hi CX3 CR1low and “alternative” or “patrolling” monocytes that are Ly6Clow CCR2low CX3 CR1hi. The process of monocyte recruitment and differentiation is still a matter of controversy. In this issue, Dal-Secco et al. report in situ monocyte reprogramming in the liver, from proinflammatory CCR2hi CX3 CR1low cells into reparative CCR2low CX3 CR1hi cells and show, for the first time, that this occurs at the site of injury.