Research paves way for monocyte based cell therapy

Adult circulating monocytes that get access to the macrophage niche in the liver or the lung can acquire identical tissue-specific macrophage functions and self-maintenance capacities as macrophages of embryonic origin, scientists have discovered. This paves the way towards monocyte-based cellular therapy in diseases associated with macrophage dysfunction, such as the disease known as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Using a mouse model for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, the authors demonstrate that this rare disease can be cured by a single transfer of monocytes.