Development of a Fluorescent Probe for M2 Macrophages via Gating-Oriented Live-Cell Distinction

Macrophages are the most plastic immune cells by changing their characters in response to environmental stimuli. Broadly, macrophages are categorized into two different subsets based on M1/M2 paradigm, which exhibit completely contrary phenotypes. Whereas M1 macrophages are aggressive to offend invaders such as bacteria and tumors, M2 are anti-inflammatory cells and seemingly help tumor immunity. Tumor-associated macrophages are typical examples of M2 cells as the key components of forming and maintaining the tumor microenvironment. Despite the intensive interest, monitoring M2 macrophages in real time is hampered by the lack of competent detection tools. Here, we report the first M2 selective probe CDg18 with a novel mechanism of gating-oriented live-cell distinction through M2-favored fatty acid transporters. To demonstrate the potential of CDg18, we visualize the progressive phenotypic change of M2 toward M1 using a resveratrol analogue HS-1793 as a reprogramming effector. Combined together with M1 probe CDr17, the diminishing M2 character and emerging M1 markers could be simultaneously monitored in real time through the multicolor changes during macrophage reprogramming.