Hungry, Hungry Macrophages

Macrophages are the human body’s primary cleanup system. As the immune system’s main phagocyte — or cell that has the astounding ability to engulf and digest another particle – macrophages eat up the billions of cells that die in our body each day. Dead cells themselves send out what scientists call the “Eat Me” signal. They release chemicals that simultaneously attract macrophages and open up spaces in between blood vessel cells for the macrophages to squeeze through to get to the site of need. Watch here as real-life macrophages ingest beads carrying the “Eat Me” markers.

Hungry, Hungry Macrophages