The DOI matches its Crossref record; 231 of the 231 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Drugging the efferocytosis process: concepts and opportunities
Open accessAbstract
The daily removal of billions of apoptotic cells in the human body via the process of efferocytosis is essential for homeostasis. To allow for this continuous efferocytosis, rapid phenotypic changes occur in the phagocytes enabling them to engulf and digest the apoptotic cargo. In addition, efferocytosis is actively anti-inflammatory and promotes resolution. Owing to its ubiquitous nature and the sheer volume of cell turnover, efferocytosis is a point of vulnerability. Aberrations in efferocytosis are associated with numerous inflammatory pathologies, including atherosclerosis, cancer and infections. The recent exciting discoveries defining the molecular machinery involved in efferocytosis have opened many avenues for therapeutic intervention, with several agents now in clinical trials.
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“efferocytosis in other settings can promote fibrosis as part of the tissue resolution process, for example, by secreting TGF-β1 (12, 13).”
From Impaired TIM4-mediated efferocytosis by liver macrophages contributes to fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (2025) · cites this paper as [13]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
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“While some progress has been made with respect to the Fractalkine receptor (CX3C motif chemokine receptor 1), Axl, MerTK, CD47 and Tim4/3, no approaches have thus far been clinically approved (64).”
From Cholesterol efflux protein, ABCA1, supports anticancer functions of myeloid immune cells (2026) · cites this paper as [64]
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In the citing paper
“The accumulation of dead cells in disease settings indicates impaired clearance of dead cells by macrophages (“efferocytosis”) (12, 13).”
From Impaired TIM4-mediated efferocytosis by liver macrophages contributes to fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (2025) · cites this paper as [13]
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Efferocytosis not only prevents dead cell accumulation but also reprograms macrophages to execute tissue resolution functions, and impaired efferocytosis contributes to many human chronic inflammatory diseases (12, 13).”
From Impaired TIM4-mediated efferocytosis by liver macrophages contributes to fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (2025) · cites this paper as [13]
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“It is seen as a major hurdle to using antigen presenting cells in cell-based therapies (61–64).”
From Cholesterol efflux protein, ABCA1, supports anticancer functions of myeloid immune cells (2026) · cites this paper as [64]
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Citations
Cites
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- Noelia, A. et al. Apoptotic cells promote their own clearance and immune tolerance through activation of the nuclear receptor LXR. Immunity 31, 245–258 (2009). This important study highlights the role of nuclear receptors in anti-inflammatory effects of efferocytosis and plausible therapeutic advantages of targeting the pathway. · DOI
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Galluzzi, L., Guilbaud, E., Schmidt, D. R., Kroemer, G., & Marincola, F. M. (2024) · Nature Reviews Drug Discovery · doi:10.1038/s41573-024-00920-9 · Cited by 638
A second-generation M1-polarized CAR macrophage with antitumor efficacy
Lei, A., Yu, H., Lu, S., Lu, H., Ding, X., Tan, T., Zhang, H., Zhu, M., Tian, L., Wang, X., et al. (2023) · Nature Immunology · doi:10.1038/s41590-023-01687-8 · Cited by 326
Macrophage function in adipose tissue homeostasis and metabolic inflammation
Chavakis, T., Alexaki, V. I., & Ferrante, A. W. (2023) · Nature Immunology · doi:10.1038/s41590-023-01479-0 · Cited by 279
Dendritic cell maturation in cancer
Moon, C. Y., Belabed, M., Park, M. D., Mattiuz, R., Puleston, D. J., & Mérad, M. (2025) · Nature reviews. Cancer · doi:10.1038/s41568-024-00787-3 · Cited by 189
The role of efferocytosis‐fueled macrophage metabolism in the resolution of inflammation
Schilperoort, M., Ngai, D., Sukka, S. R., Avrampou, K., Shi, H., & Tabas, I. A. (2023) · Immunological Reviews · doi:10.1111/imr.13214 · Cited by 184
Metadata
- Authors
- Mehrotra, P., & Ravichandran, K. S.
- Affiliations
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (BE)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ravichandran, Kodi S.
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
- Published
- 2022-06-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 601-620
- ISSN
- 1474-1776 (ISSN-L)
- 1474-1784
- PMC
- PMC9157040
- OpenAlex
- W4281737563
- Cited by
- 459
- References
- 231
- Citations by year
- 2026: 130 · 2025: 153 · 2024: 104 · 2023: 66 · 2022: 6
- FWCI
- 8.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (P01HL120840)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35GM122542)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI159551)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
- Keywords
- efferocytosis, phagocytes, anti-inflammatory mechanism, inflammation resolution, therapeutic target, atherosclerosis, cancer, infection
- MeSH terms
- Homeostasis, Humans, Phagocytes, Phagocytosis, Apoptosis, Atherosclerosis
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