IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Phagocytic CD206+ interstitial macrophages are remodeled after pneumococcal respiratory infection

Phagocytic CD206+ interstitial macrophages are remodeled after pneumococcal respiratory infection

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Elise Armstrong presented her Ph.D. work on how lung interstitial macrophages (IMs) change after repeated pneumococcal infections and help protect against severe pneumonia. Using a mouse model of “heterotypic protection,” prior exposure to a mild pneumococcal strain allowed mice to survive a later lethal challenge. Her studies showed that two IM subsets, especially CD206-positive IMs, increased in number and persisted long after infection. These cells also shifted their location, phenotype, and gene expression, with the experienced subset showing signatures linked to extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammatory signals, and phagocytosis. CytSeq analysis helped distinguish naive versus remodeled IM states. Functionally, the remodeled CD206-positive IMs took up more pneumococci and fluorescent E. coli, suggesting enhanced phagocytic capacity. Armstrong concluded that these macrophages are remodeled by prior infection and may play an important role in lung defense and recovery.

Meta Tag

Date April 19, 2026 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Room 104 AB

Session Innate Defenses against Pathogens

Speaker Elise Armstrong

Track Innate Immune Responses and Host Defense: Cellular Mechanisms (INC)

Year 2026

Keywords

lung interstitial macrophages

pneumococcal infection

heterotypic protection

CD206-positive IMs

phagocytosis

April 19, 2026 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

104 AB

Innate Defenses against Pathogens

Elise Armstrong

Innate Immune Responses and Host Defense: Cellular Mechanisms (INC)

2026