How do innate immune cells orchestrate the complex response of phagocytosis? This review explores the intricate signaling networks activated by microbial contact in macrophages and other innate immune cells. While many proteins are known to participate, high-throughput tools suggest that more remain to be discovered. The paper examines the simultaneous engagement of multiple receptors during recognition, mediating internalization, microbial killing, and the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. It underscores that many signaling molecules perform multiple functions, highlighting their role as key regulators of phagocytosis, demonstrating how this process may evade destruction. The review concludes by noting that pathogenic microorganisms target these signaling molecules in attempts to evade destruction. Understanding this complexity is crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance immune responses and combat infections, therefore targeting efforts to evade destruction.
Published in the Annual Review of Immunology, this paper directly aligns, as the journal focuses on significant research and overviews in the field of immunology. By examining the complexity of phagocytosis and highlighting key signaling pathways, this paper fits perfectly.