【Animal modeling】-Flow cytometry analysis of the phenotypic characteristics of PMA-induced THP-1 differentiation into macrophages

  Objective: To clarify the differentiation of macrophages derived from THP-1 cells induced by PMA alone by flow cytometry.

  Methods: First, THP-1 cells were stimulated with PMA to differentiate into macrophages, and then LPS, IFN-γ and IL-6 were used to induce the cells into M1 macrophages, respectively. Cells were induced to M2 type macrophages. The morphological changes of the three cells were observed under the microscope, and the differences in the expression of the main CD molecules were detected by flow cytometry.

  RESULTS: When THP-1 differentiated into macrophages, it became adherent growth, and the cell morphology was relatively regular round or oval; M1 and M2 cells were irregular in shape, with obvious cell protrusions and larger cell granularity. The expression of CD molecules related to antigen presentation function on the surface of macrophages was low, and most of them were negative, while the expression of these CD molecules on the surface of M1 and M2 cells was higher.

  Conclusion: The macrophages differentiated from THP-1 cells stimulated by PMA alone have weak antigen-presenting ability and are basically in a quiescent state.