Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Studying the Role of Alveolar Macrophages in Breast Cancer Metastasis
Published on: June 26, 2016
Heterogeneity and function of macrophages in the breast during homeostasis and cancer
Eva Hadadi1, Sofie Deschoemaeker1, Gerard Vicente Venegas1
1Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium; Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Macrophages are diverse immune cells populating all tissues and adopting a unique tissue-specific identity. Breast macrophages play an essential role in the development and function of the mammary gland over one's lifetime. In the recent years, with the development of fate-mapping, imaging and scRNA-seq technologies we grew a better understanding of the origin, heterogeneity and function of mammary macrophages in homeostasis but also during breast cancer development. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the latest improvements in studying the macrophage heterogeneity in healthy mammary tissues and breast cancer.
Macrophages are diverse immune cells populating all tissues and adopting a unique tissue-specific identity. Breast macrophages play an essential role in the development and function of the mammary gland over one's lifetime. In the recent years, with the development of fate-mapping, imaging and scRNA-seq technologies we grew a better understanding of the origin, heterogeneity and function of mammary macrophages in homeostasis but also during breast cancer development. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the latest improvements in studying the macrophage heterogeneity in healthy mammary tissues and breast cancer.
Related Concept Videos
The Tumor Microenvironment
Autocrine Signaling
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...

