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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
Published on: August 1, 2019
A novel assay system for macrophage-activating factor activity using a human U937 cell line
Mami Ishikawa1, Takahiro Inoue1, Toshio Inui2
1Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe, Japan.
Background:
Macrophages play important roles in antitumor immunity, and immunotherapy with the group-specific component protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) has been reported to be effective in patients with various types of cancers. However, in macrophage research, it is important to properly evaluate macrophage activity.
Materials And Methods:
U937 macrophages were induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbolacetate (TPA). The phagocytic activity of macrophages was evaluated as the internalized beads ratio. The MAF activity was assessed at 30 min after MAF addition as the activation ratio.
Results:
We established a novel assay for phagocytic activities using differentiated U937 macrophages.
Conclusion:
The novel protocol was simple and rapid and was sensitive for GcMAF. This protocol should be useful not only for basic studies, such as those on molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage activation, but also for clinical studies, such as assessment of GcMAF activity prior to clinical use.
