Stimulation, Priming and Activation of Macrophages

The word stimulus can be used as a noun, as in inflammatory stimulus, but in this context not in the adjectival form, as in stimulated macrophages (Van Forth 1989). The term stimulated macrophages is imprecise, because stimulation means that a stimulus has been apphed that may result in ehcitation and/or activation of cells. 

The term immunomodulators has been employed to define agents or approaches that will modify the relationship between tumour and host by modifying a host s biologic response to tumour cells, with an enhanced therapeutic benefit. The cascade of the cellular immune system is irutiated by the uptake and processing of antigen by the macrophage. 

Several agents which increase macrophage and lymphocyte tumour cell cytotoxicity appear to do so by interferon production. Poly I C and maleic 

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