#1-94E. Dynamic Macrophage Phenotypes in Rheumatic Diseases (Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2025)

What is the precise role of macrophages in the pathophysiology of autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases? This comprehensive review summarizes the latest understanding of macrophage plasticity in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, and giant-cell arteritis. It explains that the traditional M1/M2 classification is outdated, as macrophages exist on a continuum of phenotypes in vivo. The most critical takeaway is that macrophage phenotypes dynamically shift according to disease activity, organ-specific pathology, and treatment, profoundly influencing disease progression and therapeutic response. However, as this is a review article, it is important to remember that the limitations of the individual cited studies must be critically considered. By discussing how existing drugs shape macrophage phenotypes, this paper offers crucial insights for physicians contemplating novel therapeutic strategies in their clinical practice.

Citation: CUTOLO, Maurizio, et al. Dynamic macrophage phenotypes in autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Nature Reviews Rheumatology. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01279-w

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