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M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in cancer. This protocol serves as a detailed guide to reproducibly differentiate and polarize THP-1 monocyte-like cells into M2-like macrophages within 14 days. This model is the basis to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of TAM within the tumor microenvironment.
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) can switch their expression and cytokine profile according to external stimuli. This remarkable plasticity enables TAM to adapt to ongoing changes within the tumor microenvironment. Macrophages can have either primarily pro-inflammatory (M1-like) or anti-inflammatory (M2-like) attributes and can continually switch between these two main states. M2-like macrophages within the tumor environment are associated with cancer progression and poor prognosis in several types of cancer. Many different methods for inducing differentiation and polarization of THP-1 cells are used to investigate cellular and intercellular mechanisms and the effects of TAM within the microenvironment of tumors. Currently, there is no established model for M2-like macrophage polarization using the THP-1 cell line, and the results of expression and cytokine profiles of macrophages due to certain in vitro stimuli vary between studies. This protocol serves as detailed guidance to differentiate THP-1 monocyte-like cells into M0 macrophages and to further polarize cells into an M2-like phenotype within 14 days. We demonstrate the morphological changes of THP-1 monocyte-like cells, differentiated macrophages, and polarized M2-like macrophages using light microscopy. This model is the basis for cell line models investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of TAM and their interactions with other cell populations of the tumor microenvironment.
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and their role in chronic inflammation, the onset of cancer, and tumor development are important targets in recent research1,2. Peripheral blood monocytes that are recruited to the tissue microenvironment of the developing tumor differentiate into macrophages and can be polarized into two main subtypes of macrophages3. The classically activated macrophage represents the primarily pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype and the alternatively activated M2-like subtype shows predominantly anti-inflammatory characteristics4. Macrophages can switch dynamically between these two main phenotypes depending upon their cellular metabolism, with intermediate subtypes having both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory attributes5. TAM represents a heterogeneous population of both phenotypes. A tumor-promoting function and poor prognosis in different types of cancers is, however, particularly associated with M2-like macrophages6,7,8.
The functional profiles of macrophages and their interaction with other cells within the tumor microenvironment are complex and challenging to capture in a continuously changing environment during ongoing tumor development. Cell lines can provide a homogenous cell population with stable viability in culture, which can facilitate the process of demonstrating defined cellular and intercellular mechanisms. The monocyte-like THP-1 cell line is a legitimate model system for primary human monocytes9. This spontaneously immortalized cell line has been obtained from the peripheral blood of a one-year-old infant with acute monocytic leukemia9,10. The differentiation and polarization of THP-1 cells have been reported by several studies and have been performed in multiple different ways11,12,13,14. Activation and, therefore, the polarization of macrophages into an M1-like phenotype is followed by a compensatory anti-inflammatory rebound mechanism, promoting an M2-like phenotype through cytokines produced by inflammatory macrophages, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) or itaconate15,16. This might serve as a break mechanism to attenuate an overshooting inflammatory response following cell activation17. The process of differentiating and polarizing monocytes and THP-1 monocyte-like cells into an anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype is itself also accompanied by pro-inflammatory stimuli that must be overcome. An inflammatory cytokine response can be caused by mechanical stress18, such as changing media to refeed the cells, or adding chemical compounds to differentiate THP-1 cells, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and induce production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) or IL-619. This altered cytokine expression profile as a response to PMA can affect and prevent subsequent macrophage polarization20. Adequate resting periods, as reported before after PMA treatment, allow these inflammatory responses to decrease and facilitate cell polarization into a distinct M2-like phenotype21.
This protocol demonstrates a method to differentiate and polarize THP-1 monocyte-like cells into an M2-like phenotype of macrophages within 14 days.
NOTE: An overview of the steps described in this protocol is shown in Figure 1. The human monocyte-like leukemia cell line THP-1 was purchased. Short tandem repeat analysis was performed to authenticate the THP-1 cell line. Perform all steps under sterile conditions. The THP-1 monocytic cell line grows in suspension and does not attach to cell culture surfaces. Adherence can be induced by differentiating monocytes into macrophage-like cells through, e.g., mechanical stress or specific treatment with PMA.
1. Culturing and maintenance of THP-1 monocyte-like cells
2. Seeding of THP-1 cells and differentiation into M0 macrophages
3. Polarization of M0 macrophages into M2-like macrophages
4. Detaching and harvesting macrophages for flow cytometry
NOTE: Use a mechanical method combining cold shocking and cell scraping to detach and harvest the polarized macrophages from plates for flow cytometry.
M2-like macrophages were characterized, and M2-polarization was validated using flow cytometry for Cluster of Differentiation markers (CD) CD14, CD11b, CD80 (M1-like marker), and CD206 (M2-like marker). Flow cytometry staining was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Macrophages were washed with PBS/5% FBS and incubated with Fcγ-receptor block to avoid unspecific binding. Cells were then stained with FITC-conjugated mouse anti-human CD14 and CD80 antibodies, with PE-conjugated mouse anti-human...
This protocol on differentiating and polarizing THP-1 monocyte-like cells within 14 days provides a method to obtain macrophages with a distinct M2-like phenotype due to long treatment incubation of cells with adequate resting periods between steps.
Certain steps are critical to this protocol. The doubling time of THP-1 monocytes is approximately 26 h. Cells can be split at a cell density of 9 x 105/mL and should be seeded at a density of 3 x 105/mL during every split. Th...
The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.
The Price Institute of Surgical Research, University of Louisville, is financially supported by the John W. Price and Barbara Thruston Atwood Price Trust. The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study as well as in the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
0.4% trypan blue | VWR, Radnor, USA | 152-5061 | |
1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube | USA Scientific, Ocala, USA | 1615-5510 | |
10 mL serological pipet | VWR, Radnor, USA | 89130-898 | |
1000 μL TipOne pipet tips | USA Scientific, Ocala, USA | 1111-2821 | |
15 mL Centrifuge tube | VWR, Radnor, USA | 89039-664 | |
20 μL TipOne pipet tips | USA Scientific, Ocala, USA | 1120-1810 | |
200 μL TipOne pipet tips | USA Scientific, Ocala, USA | 1120-8810 | |
25 mL serological pipet | VWR, Radnor, USA | 89130-900 | |
5 mL serological pipet | VWR, Radnor, USA | 89130-896 | |
50 mL Centrifuge tube | VWR, Radnor, USA | 89039-662 | |
Accutase solution 500 mL | Sigma, St. Louis, USA | A6964 | |
Antibiotic Antimycotic Solution (100x), stabilized | Sigma, St. Louis, USA | A5955-100 mL | with 10,000 units penicillin, 10 mg of streptomycin and 25 μg of amphotericin B per mL, sterile-filtered, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture |
Binder CO2 Incubator | VWR, Radnor, USA | C170-ULE3 | |
CytoOne T-75cm flask with filter cap | USA Scientific, Ocala, USA | CC7682-4875 | |
Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) | Sigma, St. Louis, USA | D8537-500 mL | PBS without calcium chloride and magnesium chloride should be used, since both can alter macrophage polarization |
Eppendorf Centrifuge 5804 R (refrigerated) | Eppendorf, Enfield, USA | - | |
Ethyl alcohol (70%) | - | - | |
FACSCalibur flow cytometer | BD Biosciences, San Diego, USA | - | The flow cytometer operates with CellQuest software (BD Biosciences) |
Falcon 24-well plate | VWR, Radnor, USA | 353504 | |
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) | ATCC, Manassas, USA | 30-2020 | |
FITC Mouse Anti-Human CD14 | BD Biosciences, San Diego, USA | 555397 | Flow cytometry, myeloid cell marker (100 tests) |
FITC Mouse Anti-Human CD80 | BD Pharmingen, San Diego, USA | 557226 | Flow cytometry, M1 marker (100 tests) |
FITC Mouse IgG1 κ Isotype Control | BD Pharmingen, San Diego, USA | 555748 | Flow cytometry, isotype control for CD80 (100 tests) |
FITC Mouse IgG2a, κ Isotype Control | BD Biosciences, San Diego, USA | 553456 | Flow cytometry, isotype control for CD14 (100 tests) |
Human BD Fc Block | BD Biosciences, San Diego, USA | 564220 | Flow cytometry, Fc block (0.25 mg) |
Human interleukin 13 (IL-13) | R&D, Minneapolis, USA | IL-771-10 μg | |
Human interleukin 4 (IL-4) | R&D, Minneapolis, USA | SRP3093-20 μg | |
Labconco Biosafety Cabinet (Delta Series 36212/36213) | Labconco, Kansas City, USA | - | |
L-Glutamine Solution, 200 mM | ATCC, Manassas, USA | 30-2214 | |
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli 0111:B4 | Sigma, St. Louis, USA | L2630-100 mg | |
Mini Cell Scrapers | Biotium, Fremont, USA | 22003 | |
Neubauer hemocytometer | Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA | 02-671-5 | |
Nikon Eclipse inverted microscope TS100 | Nikon, Melville, USA | - | |
Nuclease-free water | Invitrogen, Carlsbad, USA | AM9937 | |
Olympus Light Microscope RH-2 | Microscope Central, Feasterville, USA | 40888 | |
P10 variable pipet- Gilson | VWR, Radnor, USA | 76180-014 | |
P1000 variable pipet-Gilson | VWR, Radnor, USA | 76177-990 | |
P200 variable pipet- Gilson | VWR, Radnor, USA | 76177-988 | |
PE Mouse Anti-Human CD11b | BD Biosciences, San Diego, USA | 555388 | Flow cytometry, myeloid cell marker (100 tests) |
PE Mouse IgG1, κ Isotype Control | BD Biosciences, San Diego, USA | 555749 | Flow cytometry, isotype control for CD11b (100 tests) |
PE-Cy 5 Mouse Anti-Human CD206 | BD Pharmingen, San Diego, USA | 551136 | Flow cytometry, M2 marker (100 tests) |
PE-Cy 5 Mouse IgG1 κ Isotype Control | BD Pharmingen, San Diego, USA | 555750 | Flow cytometry, isotype control for CD206 (100 tests) |
Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) | Sigma, St. Louis, USA | P8139 | |
Powerpette Plus pipettor | VWR, Radnor, USA | 75856-448 | |
Precision Water bath (model 183) | Precision Scientific, Chicago, USA | 66551 | |
RPMI-1640 Medium | ATCC, Manassas, USA | 30-2001 | |
THP-1 cell line, American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) | ATCC, Manassas, USA | TIB-202 |
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