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Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization into an M2-Like Phenotype using a Human Monocyte-Like THP-1 Leukemia Cell Line
Published on: August 2, 2021
The duality of macrophage function in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Y C E Chen1, S Mapp2, A Blumenthal1
1University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Abstract:
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukaemia and, in some patients, is accompanied by resistance to both chemotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics. In this review we will discuss the role of tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) in promoting CLL cell survival and resistance to immunotherapeutics. In addition, we will discuss mechanisms by which TAMs suppress T-cell mediated antitumour responses. Thus, targeting macrophages could be used to i) reduce the leukaemic burden via the induction of T-cell-mediated antitumour responses, ii) to reduce pro-survival signalling and enhance response to conventional chemotherapeutics or iii) enhance the response to therapeutic antibodies in current clinical use.
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