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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Neuron-Macrophage Co-cultures to Activate Macrophages Secreting Molecular Factors with Neurite Outgrowth Activity
Published on: March 30, 2018
Peripheral nerve induces macrophage neurotrophic activities: regulation of neuronal process outgrowth, intracellular
Annemarie Shibata1, Marina Zelivyanskaya, Jenae Limoges
1Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985215 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5215, USA.
Abstract:
Rat cortical neurons cultured in conditioned media from human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) show increased neuronal protein synthesis, neurite outgrowth, mitogen-activating protein kinase activity, and synaptic function. Neurotrophic properties of human MDM-conditioned media are significantly enhanced by human peripheral nerve and to a more limited extent by CD40 ligand pre-stimulation. Such positive effects of MDM secretions on neuronal function parallel the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). MDM activation cues may serve to balance toxic activities produced during neurodegenerative diseases and thus, under certain circumstances, mitigate neuronal degeneration.
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