Tissue-resident macrophages are heterogeneous populations distributed throughout the body, where they function as immune sentinels positioned for encounters with pathogens or environmental challenges. They play critical roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis, responding to infections, and contributing to autoimmune processes. The current challenge facing the field is to identify the subsets of macrophages that are specifically involved in diseases caused by pathogen infections and autoimmune responses. In autoimmune diseases, tissue-resident macrophages can contribute to chronic inflammation by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines and perpetuating an immune response against self-antigens. They perform critical regulatory functions by promoting tissue repair, suppressing inappropriate immune responses, and restoring homeostasis.

Research on tissue-resident macrophages is rapidly evolving, with many open questions that have the potential to significantly impact our understanding of immunology and the development of novel therapies for various diseases.

This collection invites studies that explore the role of tissue-resident macrophages and their interactions with other immune cells in maintaining homeostasis, as well as in the contexts of infection and autoimmunity. We welcome submissions of original research, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and brief research reports that address, but are not limited to, the following key questions:

• What are the precise origins of tissue-resident macrophages in different tissues?
• How do tissue-specific signals influence the differentiation and maintenance of macrophages? What are the mechanisms underlying the functional heterogeneity among alveolar macrophages, Kupffer cells, microglia, peritoneal macrophages, and intestinal macrophages?
• Interaction with other immune Cells: Macrophages interact with various immune cells, including T cells and B cells, influencing their function and contributing to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
• How do tissue-resident macrophages balance immune activation and tolerance? Determining how macrophages maintain homeostasis while responding to pathogens and preventing autoimmunity is a critical question.
• How do tissue-resident macrophages contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases? Investigating the roles of macrophages in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and atherosclerosis could reveal new therapeutic targets.

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Frontiers in Immunology

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