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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Culture of Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Differentiated Human Monocyte-derived Macrophages
Published on: June 30, 2016
Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor-Derived Macrophages Exhibit Distinctive Early Immune Response to
Torki Alothaimeen1, Kyle Seaver1, Rylend Mulder1
1Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
Abstract:
Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage CSF (M-CSF) modulate differentiation and immune functions of macrophages (MΦ). Our aim was to evaluate how different MΦ differentiation conditions influence the MΦ response to virus infection. To address this, we differentiated bone marrow-derived MΦ in either GM-CSF or M-CSF and measured the cytokine responses to two different strains of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) (clone 13; Cl13 or Armstrong; ARM). GM-CSF MΦ infected with either LCMV-ARM or -Cl13 produced more IL-6 than M-CSF MΦ, whereas M-CSF MΦ generated more IL-10 than GM-CSF MΦ. Interestingly, in M-CSF MΦ, LCMV-ARM induced more IL-10 production than Cl13. However, we could not detect any IL-12p70 or IL-23 after infection from either cell types. We also observed that GM-CSF MΦ was more efficient than M-CSF MΦ in supporting antigen-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that GM-CSF and M-CSF MΦ differ in how they respond to viral infection by their production of different cytokines, and their support for CD8+ T cell proliferation.
Insights
Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage CSF (M-CSF) drive distinct macrophage (MΦ) responses to viral infection. GM-CSF MΦ produce more IL-6 and support T cell proliferation, while M-CSF MΦ yield more IL-10.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Virology
Background:
- Macrophages (MΦ) are key immune cells with diverse functions.
- Differentiation of MΦ is influenced by colony-stimulating factors like GM-CSF and M-CSF.
- Understanding MΦ responses to viral infections is crucial for immune defense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how MΦ differentiated with GM-CSF versus M-CSF respond to viral infection.
- To compare cytokine production and T cell support by GM-CSF MΦ and M-CSF MΦ after lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) exposure.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow-derived MΦ were differentiated using either GM-CSF or M-CSF.
- Differentiated MΦ were infected with two strains of LCMV (clone 13 and Armstrong).
- Cytokine production (IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-23) and CD8+ T cell proliferation were measured.
Main Results:
- GM-CSF MΦ produced significantly more IL-6 than M-CSF MΦ following LCMV infection.
- M-CSF MΦ generated higher levels of IL-10 compared to GM-CSF MΦ.
- Neither MΦ type produced detectable IL-12p70 or IL-23.
- GM-CSF MΦ demonstrated superior support for antigen-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation.
Conclusions:
- GM-CSF and M-CSF induce distinct macrophage phenotypes with differential responses to viral stimuli.
- These distinct MΦ subsets exhibit unique cytokine profiles and varying capacities to support adaptive immune responses.
- The differentiation pathway of macrophages significantly impacts their role in antiviral immunity.
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