Several highly prevalent human diseases are associated with immunopathology. Alterations in the immune system are found in\nsuch life-threatening disorders as cancer and atherosclerosis. Monocyte activation followed by macrophage polarization is an\nimportant step in normal immune response to pathogens and other relevant stimuli. Depending on the nature of the activation\nsignal,macrophages can acquire pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotypes that are characterized by the expression of distinct patterns\nof secreted cytokines and surface antigens. This process is disturbed in immunopathologies resulting in abnormal monocyte\nactivation and/or bias ofmacrophage polarization towards one or the other phenotype. Such alterations could be used as important\ndiagnostic markers and also as possible targets for the development of immunomodulating therapy. Recently developed cellular\ntests are designed to analyze the phenotype and activity of living cells circulating in patient�s bloodstream. Monocyte/macrophage\nactivation test is a successful example of cellular test relevant for atherosclerosis and oncopathology. This test demonstrated changes\nin macrophage activation in subclinical atherosclerosis and breast cancer and could also be used for screening a panel of natural\nagents with immunomodulatory activity. Further development of cellular tests will allow broadening the scope of their clinical\nimplication. Such tests may become useful tools for drug research and therapy optimization.
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