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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Culture of Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Differentiated Human Monocyte-derived Macrophages
Published on: June 30, 2016
Functional heterogeneity of colony-stimulating factor-induced human monocyte-derived macrophages
Kiyoko S Akagawa1, Iwao Komuro, Hiroko Kanazawa
1Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Tokyo, Japan. akagawak@nih.go.jp
Objectives:
Macrophages (Mphis) have various functions and play a critical role in host defense and the maintenance of homeostasis. Mphis exist in every tissue in the body, but Mphis from different tissues exhibit a wide range of phenotypes with regard to their morphology, cell surface antigen expression and function, and are called by different names. However, the precise mechanism of the generation of macrophage heterogeneity is not known. In the present study, the authors examined the functional heterogeneity of Mphis generated from human monocytes under the influence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage-CSF (M-CSF).
Methodology:
CD14 positive human monocytes (Mos) were incubated with M-CSF and GM-CSF for 6-7 days to stimulate the generation of M-CSF-induced monocyte-derived Mphis (M-Mphis) and GM-CSF-induced monocyte-derived Mphis (GM-Mphis), respectively. The expression of cell surface antigens and several functions such as antigen presenting cell activity, susceptibility to oxidant stress, and the susceptibility to HIV-1 and mycobacterium tuberculosis infection were examined.
Results:
GM-Mphis and M-Mphis are distinct in their morphology, cell surface antigen expression, and functions examined. The phenotype of GM-Mphis closely resembles that of human Alveolar-Mphis (A-Mphis), indicating that CSF-induced human monocyte-derived Mphis are useful to clarify the molecular mechanism of heterogeneity of human Mphis, and GM-Mphis will become a model of human A-Mphis.
Insights
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage-CSF (M-CSF) generate distinct macrophage phenotypes from human monocytes. GM-CSF-induced macrophages mimic alveolar macrophages, offering a model for studying macrophage heterogeneity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Macrophages (Mphis) are crucial for host defense and homeostasis.
- Tissue-resident macrophages display diverse phenotypes, but the origins of this heterogeneity are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional heterogeneity of Mphis generated from human monocytes.
- To compare Mphis differentiated by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage-CSF (M-CSF).
Main Methods:
- Human CD14+ monocytes were cultured with M-CSF or GM-CSF for 6-7 days to generate M-CSF-induced Mphis (M-Mphis) and GM-CSF-induced Mphis (GM-Mphis).
- Evaluated cell surface antigen expression and functions including antigen presentation, oxidant stress, and susceptibility to HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Main Results:
- GM-Mphis and M-Mphis exhibited distinct morphologies, cell surface antigen profiles, and functional characteristics.
- The phenotype of GM-Mphis closely resembled human Alveolar-Mphis (A-Mphis).
Conclusions:
- CSF-induced Mphis from human monocytes are valuable for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage heterogeneity.
- GM-Mphis serve as a relevant model for human A-Mphis, aiding further research into macrophage diversity.
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