Establishment of a Macrophage-activating Factor Assay System Using the Human Monocytic Cell Line THP-1

Takahiro Inoue; Mami Ishikawa; Yu Sumiya; Haruka Kohda; Toshio Inui; Daisuke Kuchiike; Kentaro Kubo; Yoshihiro Uto; Takahito Nishikata

Establishment of a Macrophage-activating Factor Assay System Using the Human Monocytic Cell Line THP-1

Anticancer Res. 2015 Aug;35(8):4441-5.

Authors

Takahiro Inoue¹, Mami Ishikawa¹, Yu Sumiya¹, Haruka Kohda¹, Toshio Inui², Daisuke Kuchiike³, Kentaro Kubo⁴, Yoshihiro Uto⁵, Takahito Nishikata⁶

Affiliations

¹ Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe, Japan.
² Department of Life System, Institute of Technology and Science, Graduate School, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan Saisei Mirai Cell Processing Center, Osaka, Japan Inui Immunotherapy Clinic, Osaka, Japan.
³ Department of Life System, Institute of Technology and Science, Graduate School, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan Saisei Mirai Cell Processing Center, Osaka, Japan.
⁴ Saisei Mirai Cell Processing Center, Osaka, Japan.
⁵ Department of Life System, Institute of Technology and Science, Graduate School, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.
⁶ Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe, Japan nisikata@konan-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 26168484

Abstract

Background: As the mechanism of macrophage activation is not well-understood, standardization of an assay system for measuring phagocytic activities of macrophages will be useful for research on macrophages. Previously, we established a novel standardized macrophage-activating factor (MAF) assay system using U937.

Materials and methods: Using the human monocytic cell line THP-1, another standardized MAF assay system was established. Characteristic gene expression of U937- and THP-1-derived macrophages was compared by gene expression microarray analysis.

Results: Both U937- and THP-1-derived macrophages showed obvious phagocytic activities with unique characteristics and, therefore, could not be assigned to a single sub-type.

Conclusion: Activation of macrophages is an intricate cellular process. Comparison of our two novel assay systems provides new insights into macrophage activation mechanisms.

Keywords: Immunotherapy; THP-1 cell line; U937 cell line; macrophage-activating factor; phagocytic activity.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biological Assay / methods
Cell Line
Gene Expression / genetics
Humans
Macrophage Activation / immunology*
Macrophage-Activating Factors / analysis*
Macrophages / immunology*
Microarray Analysis
Phagocytosis / immunology*
U937 Cells

Substances

Macrophage-Activating Factors