Phagocytosis is an essential cellular process in the immune system. Among the different types of phagocytes, macrophages are the most versatile and important players in this process due to their ability to recognize, engulf, and digest a wide range of foreign particles, making them critical components of the innate immune response.

At Creative Biolabs, we understand the significance of macrophage phagocytosis in various diseases and have developed advanced techniques and assays to study this process.

Which Cells Specialize in Phagocytosis?

Phagocytosis is a process that is carried out by a range of different cell types in the body, including neutrophils, dendritic cells, and macrophages. However, macrophages are considered to be the primary phagocytic cells of the immune system, and they play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunity.

Fig.1 Schema of phagocytosis performed by macrophages.¹

Macrophage Phagocytosis

Macrophages are highly specialized immune cells that can engulf and eliminate a broad range of foreign particles, including bacteria, viruses, apoptotic cells, and other debris. The process of phagocytosis involves several steps, including recognition and attachment of the foreign particle to the macrophage surface, internalization of the particle into a phagosome, and degradation of the particle within the phagolysosome.

• Macrophages are equipped with an array of specialized receptors that recognize different types of foreign particles, including pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize conserved patterns on the surface of bacteria and other pathogens, and scavenger receptors that bind to a variety of ligands, including oxidized lipids and apoptotic cells.
• Macrophages also play a key role in antigen presentation, a critical step in the adaptive immune response. After engulfing and degrading foreign particles, macrophages present fragments of the processed antigens to T cells, which can then mount a specific immune response against the pathogen.

Role of Macrophage Phagocytosis in Disease Pathogenesis

Macrophage phagocytosis plays a critical role in disease pathogenesis, and dysregulation of this process can lead to a wide range of disorders.

• Infections: Macrophages are key players in the clearance of pathogens, and dysfunction of macrophage phagocytosis can lead to persistent infections.
• Inflammatory Disorders: Macrophage phagocytosis is also involved in the regulation of inflammation, and dysregulation of this process can lead to chronic inflammatory disorders.
• Cancer: Macrophages can also promote or inhibit tumor growth, depending on the context. In the early stages of tumorigenesis, macrophages can phagocytose cancer cells and prevent their proliferation. However, in advanced stages, macrophages can become polarized towards a pro-tumorigenic phenotype, leading to the secretion of factors that promote angiogenesis and tumor growth.
• Neurodegenerative Disorders: Macrophage phagocytosis is involved in the clearance of apoptotic cells and debris in the central nervous system, and dysfunction of this process can lead to the accumulation of toxic aggregates, leading to neurodegeneration.

Macrophage Phagocytosis Assay

• One of the most commonly used assays for measuring macrophage phagocytosis is the flow cytometry-based phagocytosis assay. In this assay, fluorescently labeled particles, such as bacteria or latex beads, are incubated with macrophages, and the percentage of macrophages that have engulfed the particles is measured by flow cytometry.
• Another widely used assay is the microscopy-based phagocytosis assay, which involves incubating macrophages with fluorescently labeled particles and then visualizing the internalization of the particles by microscopy.
• In addition to these standard assays, we also offer customized macrophage phagocytosis assays to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our team of experts can work with clients to design and optimize assays for studying the phagocytosis of different types of foreign particles, as well as for evaluating the effects of various drugs and treatments on macrophage phagocytosis.

Studying macrophage phagocytosis is essential for understanding the mechanisms involved in immune homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. At Creative Biolabs, we offer a range of services for studying macrophage phagocytosis, including in vitro and in vivo assays.

For more detailed information, please feel free to contact us or send us your inquiry or question.

Reference

1. Gierlikowski, Wojciech, and Barbara Gierlikowska. "MicroRNAs as regulators of phagocytosis." Cells 11.9 (2022): 1380.