Alveolar macrophage

The alveolar macrophages are used as so-called " dust cells " in front on the surface of the alveoli (alveoli ). They engulf dead material, toxins from the blood and foreign particles (→ pneumoconiosis ). In addition, they form cytokines. Alveolar macrophages derived from monocytes from the bone marrow from, migrate through the blood vessels in the lungs and adhere to the endothelium of the pulmonary capillaries to. In case of foreign particles they migrate into the alveoli.

"Heart failure cells" ( siderophages ) are a special form of alveolar macrophages, the ( pathological) have phagocytosed and digested leaked red blood cells. The iron of hemoglobin is recorded as a yellow- brown pigment ( hemosiderin ) visible in the cells and can be selectively displayed with the Prussian blue staining. Heart failure cells come in left heart failure before due to the Rückstauung of blood in the lungs and in the sputum of patients detectable.

The Differentialzytologie a bronchoalveolar lavage typically shows more than 90 % alveolar macrophages.