Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Culture of Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Differentiated Human Monocyte-derived Macrophages
Published on: June 30, 2016
Effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on microglial responses to lipopolysaccharide and beta amyloid
Sharmili Vidyadaran1, Yin Yin Ooi, Hemavathy Subramaiam
1Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. sharmili@medic.upm.edu.my
Abstract:
A challenge for studies involving microglia cultures is obtaining sufficient cells for downstream experiments. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) has been used to improve yield of microglia in culture. However, the effects of M-CSF on activation profiles of microglia cultures are still unclear. Microglia activation is characterised by upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules and an inflammatory phenotype. The aim of this study is to demonstrate whether M-CSF supplementation alters microglial responses in resting and activated conditions. Microglia derived from mixed glia cultures and the BV-2 microglia cell line were cultivated with/without M-CSF and activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and beta amyloid (Abeta). We show M-CSF expands primary microglia without affecting microglial responses to LPS and Abeta, as shown by the comparable expression of MHC class II and CD40 to microglia grown without this growth factor. M-CSF supplementation in BV-2 cells had no effect on nitric oxide (NO) production. Therefore, M-CSF can be considered for improving microglia yield in culture without introducing activation artefacts.
Insights
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) expands primary microglia cultures for research. This factor does not alter microglial responses to inflammatory stimuli, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Obtaining sufficient microglia for research is challenging.
- Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) can increase microglia yield.
- M-CSF's impact on microglia activation states remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if M-CSF affects microglia activation profiles.
- To assess M-CSF's influence on microglia responses to inflammatory stimuli.
- To evaluate M-CSF's utility in enhancing microglia cultures.
Main Methods:
- Primary microglia and BV-2 cell line cultured with/without M-CSF.
- Microglia activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and beta amyloid (Abeta).
- Analysis of co-stimulatory molecules (MHC class II, CD40) and nitric oxide (NO) production.
Main Results:
- M-CSF expanded primary microglia cultures without altering responses to LPS and Abeta.
- Comparable expression of MHC class II and CD40 in M-CSF treated and untreated microglia.
- M-CSF supplementation did not affect nitric oxide production in BV-2 cells.
Conclusions:
- M-CSF can be used to increase microglia yield in cultures.
- M-CSF does not induce activation artefacts in microglia.
- M-CSF is a valuable tool for microglia-based research.
