Standardized protocols for differentiation of THP-1 cells to macrophages with distinct M(IFNγ+LPS), M(IL-4) and M(IL-10) phenotypes

In vitro models of differing macrophage functions are useful since human monocyte–derived macrophages are short–lived, finite and vary from donor to donor. Published protocols using the promonocytic cell line THP-1 have tended to result in cells that closely resemble classically-activated macrophages, differentiated in IFNγ and LPS. However, no protocol, to date, has fully recapitulated polarization of THP-1 to the M(IL-4) or M(IL-10) macrophage phenotypes seen when human monocyte-derived macrophages are exposed to each cytokine. Here we present protocols that can be used to prepare M(IL-4) polarized THP-1 that transcribe CCL17, CCL26, CD200R and MRC1 and M(IL-10) cells which transcribe CD163, C1QA and SEPP1. We show that the inhibitory Fcγ Receptor IIb is preferentially expressed on the surface of M(IL-4) cells, altering the balance of activating to inhibitory Fcγ Receptors. Adoption of standardized experimental conditions for macrophage polarization will make it easier to compare downstream effector functions of different macrophage polarization states, where the impact of PMA exposure is minimized and rest periods and cytokine exposure have been optimized.