Dear Editor,

Professional phagocytes are essential for host defense. The functional responses of the phagocytes to infections include chemotaxis, actin assembly, migration, adhesion, aggregation, phagocytosis, degranulation, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Superoxide generation by phagocytic NADPH oxidase as well as production of NO· by nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are necessary steps toward effective innate immune response. In addition to their principal task to eliminate bacteria, phagocytes are engaged in removing damaged, senescent, and apoptotic cells.1 During clearance of invading pathogens, proinflammatory processes ensure maximal immunological activation in the early phase but are followed by resolution and active inflammatory suppression. Both of these stages rely heavily on interrelated and redox-regulated pathways in macrophages. Initial activation is governed by the release of cytokines, eicosanoids, and chemokines whose actions orchestrate vasodilatation and increased vascular permeability and amplify further recruitment of leukocytes to aid in microbial clearance.

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