Investigating the age-dependent characteristics of human macrophages
Embargo Date
2026-02-14
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Macrophages are a heterogeneous population of immune cells that play a critical role in our innate and adaptive immune systems. The classical understanding of macrophages was centered around the idea that all macrophages are derived from circulating monocytes produced in the bone marrow. In the last decade, our understanding has changed, and studies have indicated that tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are of embryonic origin, not bone marrow-derived. The characteristics of TRMs are well-defined in mice, however not all mouse-related information applies to humans. We aim to clearly define the characteristics of human tissue-resident macrophages. This will be accomplished through morphological observations, assessing the immunophenotypic profile, gene expression, macrophage polarization state, and phagocytic capabilities. Our findings indicate that fetal-derived macrophages display a TRM phenotype, further expanding our understanding of human macrophages.