Macrophages play a pivotal role in innate immunity through their ability to recognize, engulf, and digest cellular debris and pathogens. To support cutting-edge immunological research and therapeutic development, Creative Biolabs offers a macrophage characterization service using a mass cytometry-based phagocytosis assay, which is a powerful, high-dimensional platform that simultaneously quantifies macrophage phenotype, function, and phagocytic activity at the single-cell level.

Mass Cytometry-Based Phagocytosis Assay in Macrophage Characterization

Macrophages are professional phagocytes with versatile functional phenotypes influenced by their tissue origin, activation state, and environmental cues.

Fig.1 Variety in macrophages' characteristics.^1,3

Precise characterization of macrophage subsets and their phagocytic behavior is essential for:

• Immunotherapy development: Understanding macrophage polarization in tumors or infections.
• Drug screening: Evaluating the impact of biologics or small molecules on immune clearance.
• Cell therapy engineering: Profiling macrophages for autologous or allogeneic cell-based therapeutics.

Conventional flow cytometry, although widely used, is often limited in its ability to resolve phenotypic complexity due to spectral overlap. Mass cytometry overcomes this challenge by using metal-tagged antibodies to quantify over 40 markers per cell - making it ideal for profiling macrophage diversity and function simultaneously.

The phagocytic capacity of macrophages is assessed by incubating them with metal-labeled synthetic particles. Post-engulfment, CyTOF analysis captures:

• Internalization events (quantified via metal isotope signals)
• Activation markers (e.g., CD80, CD86, MHC-II)
• Polarization signatures (e.g., CD163 for M2, CD40 for M1)
• Cytokine secretion potential (optional multiplex detection with barcoded beads)

Macrophage Characterization Service by Mass Cytometry-Based Phagocytosis Assay at Creative Biolabs

Creative Biolabs offers a macrophage characterization service by mass cytometry-based phagocytosis assay which allows for the investigation of phagocytic activity in different macrophage subpopulations. This service provides a comprehensive analysis of macrophage plasticity by linking cell phenotype to phagocytic behavior, enabling a more informative characterization of macrophage function. Moreover, this assay enables the assessment of signaling reactions in macrophages after engulfing diverse targets.

In addition, to help customers' macrophage projects perform smoothly, we also deliver a well-developed service to isolate macrophage cells from mammals and culture them with strict quality control. Together with our seasoned research teams and robust platform, we are confident in presenting each customer with relatively complete macrophage identification results.

Fig.2 Workflow of mass cytometry-based phagocytosis assay.^2,3

Here we list several mass cytometry markers to conveniently study macrophages:

Tab.1 Mass cytometry markers.

Creative Biolabs provides an end-to-end workflow optimized for consistency, sensitivity, and reproducibility.

Tab. 2 Service workflow of mass cytometry-based macrophage profiling.

Related Products

In this service, we provide comprehensive experimental design and data analysis support to ensure that our clients can obtain reliable results. From sample preparation to data analysis, we have also launched a series of related products to support your research. Our high-quality macrophages and kits have been widely used in a variety of research fields, including cell biology and immunology, and can greatly enhance experimental efficiency and accuracy of results.

We are committed to providing one-stop service and product solutions to help researchers make breakthroughs in macrophage characterization and related research. For more information about our services and products, please feel free to contact us, and we will be glad to support you!

Service Features

Single-Cell Level Molecular Profiling

Our assay allows investigation into the biochemical constituents of specific cells, enhancing our understanding of their unique biological characteristics.

Quantitative Analysis of Biomolecules

Our assay provides accurate measurement and assessment of biomolecules present in cells, covering a wide range of molecules such as proteins, metabolites, and various other biomolecules.

Characterization of Cellular Heterogeneity

Our assay offers advanced techniques for characterizing the heterogeneity of cell populations, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of cellular variations within different cell types.

Publications

Different macrophage phenotypes have different phagocytic activities. A functional assay to assess phagocytic activity by mass spectrometry has been proposed. This newly developed method combines in-depth phenotypic characterization of macrophages based on the expression of 36 protein markers with analysis of biological functions. They demonstrated the relevance of the method by assessing the ability of in vitro-activated macrophages to phagocytose bacteria and cancer cells under 10 different conditions. By correlating phagocytic activity with marker expression in individual cells, they identified marker profiles preferentially associated with phagocytosis of specific targets.

Fig. 3 Marker expression and phagocytic activity of stimulated monocyte derived macrophage populations.^2,3

Scientific Resources

Learn More Macrophage Biology

Download Macrophage Phagocytosis

Learn More Macrophages VS Phagocytes

Learn More Isolation and Identification of Macrophages

Q & A

Q: How many cells do I need to provide? What are the sample requirements?

A: For optimal CyTOF analysis, we recommend:

• Minimum cell input: 0.5-1 million viable macrophages per condition.
• Viability: >80% live cells post-isolation or thawing.
• Sample format: Single-cell suspension (no serum).

We also support frozen samples, provided they are cryopreserved in DMSO-containing media. If needed, we can assist with sample preparation SOPs or provide isolation services.

Q: Can this service be integrated with other assays?

A: Yes, we offer integrated immune profiling platforms. For example:

• Combine CyTOF with cytokine bead arrays for secretome profiling.
• Add single-cell transcriptomics (e.g., scRNA-seq) for gene expression insights.
• Use bulk RNA-seq on parallel samples to correlate transcriptome and phenotype.
• Perform live-cell imaging prior to fixation to track real-time phagocytosis.

Our multi-omics team can help you design a comprehensive experimental package based on your endpoint objectives.

Q: What is the turnaround time and how do I receive the results?

A: The turnaround time depends specifically on the project. For higher priority projects, emergency timeframes can also be accommodated. Deliverables include:

• Raw files
• Processed datasets
• Annotated figures
• Expert report with interpretation

Q: What types of macrophage samples can be used in this assay?

A: Our service is highly versatile and compatible with a range of macrophage sources. You can provide:

• Primary macrophages isolated from tissues such as blood (monocyte-derived macrophages), spleen, liver (Kupffer cells), or peritoneal cavity;
• In vitro differentiated macrophages from monocytes or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs);
• TAMs (tumor-associated macrophages) from tumor digests;
• Murine or human macrophage cell lines (e.g., RAW264.7, THP-1-derived macrophages).

References

1. Lavy, Margot, et al. "Specialized pro-resolving mediators mitigate cancer-related inflammation: role of tumor-associated macrophages and therapeutic opportunities." Frontiers in Immunology 12 (2021): 702785. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.702785
2. Schulz, Daniel, et al. "In-depth characterization of monocyte-derived macrophages using a mass cytometry-based phagocytosis assay." Scientific Reports 9.1 (2019): 1925. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38127-9
3. Under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.