Phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells: role in lung disease.

Apoptosis and apoptotic clearance are matched processes that are centered in the maintenance of homeostasis. Similar to apoptosis, apoptotic cell clearance is a conserved mechanism that is highly efficient and redundant, highlighting its overall functional importance in homeostasis. Increasing evidence suggests that the mismatch between apoptosis and apoptotic cell clearance underlies pathologic conditions including inflammatory lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, asthma, acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome and cancer immunity. Although direct causality has yet to be established, this paradigm opens novel approaches towards the understanding and treatment of lung diseases. Glucocorticoids, statins and macrolide antibiotics, which are already in use for treating lung conditions, have a positive effect on apoptotic clearance and are among novel agents that are potential candidates for treatment of these disorders.