Home > Immunology Assays > Macrophages/Monocytes
Assays for measuring monocyte and macrophage activation, cytokine release, migration, phagocytosis and polarizationMacrophages and monocytes are key effector cells of the innate immune system and are largely responsible for engulfing dying cells and pathogens. Typically monocytes are recruited to the tissue of need where they differentiate into macrophages although certain tissues also have resident macrophage populations (e.g. microglia in the brain, Kupffer cells in the liver).
Macrophages and monocytes display considerable heterogeneity, typified by a phenotypic spectrum around the M1/M2 nomenclature guided by signals in their microenvironment. The classical ‘M1’ macrophage responsible for defenceagainst infective agents may contribute to inflammation in certain diseases. The more regulatory ‘M2’ phenotype may contribute to tissue repair but also have a role in fibrotic disease. Additional subsets, such as MDSCs are potent suppressive cells and may play a major role in shaping the suppressive tumourmicroenvironment. Assays may be suitable for evaluating modulators of ABCA7, adenosine receptors, Arginase, CD33, CD80, CD86, CD209, FcgRs, IDO, NLRP3, P2RX7, P2RY12, PI3K, TLRs, SIRPa, STAT3, STING, and others. Selected publication list... |
Phagocytosis
Assessment of Monocyte Subsets
Microglia - the macrophages of the brain
Also available monocyte-derived microglia (MDMi) generated from the peripheral blood monocytes of patients with neurodegenerative or psychiatric diseases provide an alternative approach:
Monocytes and Macrophages in Disease
Given the central role of macrophages in both the clearance of pathogens and tissue remodeling, any deviation in their phenotype, especially when maintained in a chronic inflammatory state, can result in significant tissue pathology. The presence of activated macrophages is thought to be pathogenic in a number of diseases including multiple sclerosis, where they strip myelin from the neuron sheath, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and atherosclerosis.
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