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Which immune cells are commonly found in chronically inflamed tissue?
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In chronically inflamed tissue, the cellular hallmark is the infiltration of specific immune cells recruited from the circulation by the steady release of chemotactic factors. The primary immune cells commonly found in these sites include:1
- Macrophages: These are the principal cells involved in chronic inflammation. Derived from circulating monocytes, they are highly phagocytic and contribute to both the progression of tissue damage and functional impairment.213
- Lymphocytes: These cells are essential for determining the specificity of the immune response and are frequently present in chronically inflamed sites.21
- Plasma cells: These are mature, antibody-secreting B lymphocytes that are also characteristic of chronic inflammatory responses.13
In some instances, chronic inflammation manifests as granulomatous inflammation, where macrophages may be modified into epithelioid cells and organized into structures known as granulomas, which are typically surrounded by lymphocytes.1