Monocytes
Monocytes are mononuclear phagocytes that circulate in the blood. One monocyte subset seems dedicated to patrol the inner vessel wall and surveille it for integrity. A second population, defined as classical monocytes and CD14+ cells and Ly6C+ cells in man and mouse respectively, is highly dynamic and short-lived. These cells can be recruited to sites of inflammation and injury where they can give rise to monocyte-derived DC and macrophages. Emerging data suggest that classical monocytes themselves comprise neutrophil-like and DC-like populations. However, differential functional contributions of these cells to physiology and pathophysiology, as well as their relation to tissue-resident moDC and macrophages remain to be defined. We approach this question in the mouse using adoptive transfers and fate mapping strategies.