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Updated: Oct 23, 2025
Investigation of Macrophage Polarization Using Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages
Published on: June 23, 2013
Dynamic changes in macrophage metabolism modulate induction and suppression of Type I inflammatory responses
1School of Life Sciences and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
During microbial infection, macrophages link recognition of microbial stimuli to the induction of Type I inflammatory responses. Such inflammatory responses coordinate host defense and pathogen elimination but induce significant tissue damage if sustained, so macrophages are initially activated to induce inflammatory responses but then shift to a tolerant state to suppress inflammatory responses. Macrophage tolerance is regulated by induction of negative regulators of TLR signaling, but its metabolic basis was not known. Here, we review recent studies that indicate that macrophage metabolism changes dynamically over the course of microbial exposure to influence a shift in the inflammatory response. In particular, an initial increase in oxidative metabolism boosts the induction of inflammatory responses, but is followed by a shutdown of oxidative metabolism that contributes to suppression of inflammatory responses. We propose a unifying model for how dynamic changes to oxidative metabolism influences regulation of macrophage inflammatory responses during microbial exposure.
Insights
Macrophages initially boost inflammation through oxidative metabolism during infection. They later suppress inflammation by shutting down this metabolism, a key to immune tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Metabolism
- Microbial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Macrophages link microbial recognition to Type I inflammatory responses for host defense.
- Sustained inflammation can cause tissue damage, necessitating a shift to a tolerant state.
- Macrophage tolerance involves negative regulators of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, but its metabolic basis was unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on the metabolic basis of macrophage tolerance.
- To propose a unifying model for how dynamic metabolic changes regulate macrophage inflammatory responses.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on macrophage metabolism and inflammation.
- Analysis of dynamic changes in oxidative metabolism during microbial exposure.
Main Results:
- Macrophage metabolism dynamically changes during microbial exposure, influencing inflammatory responses.
- An initial increase in oxidative metabolism enhances inflammatory responses.
- Subsequent shutdown of oxidative metabolism contributes to the suppression of inflammatory responses, inducing tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic changes in oxidative metabolism are crucial for regulating the switch between inflammatory and tolerant states in macrophages.
- This metabolic regulation is fundamental to controlling host defense and preventing excessive tissue damage during infection.
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