U937 cells are commonly used in biomedical research, particularly in studies related to immunology, inflammation, cancer, and infectious diseases. They serve as a convenient model for investigating monocyte/macrophage biology, differentiation, and function in vitro. Creative Biolabs develops U937-based macrophage models to provide quality-controlled cell models and characterization services for your biomedical research.

Overview of U937 Cell

The U937 cell line, originally derived from a human histiocytic lymphoma, is a suspension monocyte-like cell line widely used in immunology and inflammation research. Upon treatment with agents such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), vitamin D3, or interferon-γ, U937 cells can differentiate into macrophage-like phenotypes, making them ideal for modeling macrophage-mediated responses.

Compared to primary macrophages, U937-derived models offer:

• Greater reproducibility
• Ease of genetic manipulation
• Stable proliferation
• Cost-effective scalability

These advantages make U937-based systems an excellent platform for cytokine profiling, phagocytosis assays, drug response evaluation, and inflammatory signaling studies.

Why Choose U937 for Macrophage Modeling?

The use of U937 cells as a macrophage model provides several scientific and practical benefits.

• Human origin: Reflects more physiologically relevant immune responses than murine models.
• Differentiation flexibility: Can be polarized into M0, M1, or M2 subtypes using well-established induction protocols.
• Functional competence: Express key macrophage markers such as CD11b, CD14, CD68, and HLA-DR upon differentiation.
• High throughput adaptability: Suitable for compound screening, toxicological profiling, and immunomodulatory drug evaluation.

At Creative Biolabs, we deliver high-performance U937-based macrophage models tailored to your research objectives.

U937-based Macrophage Model Development Service at Creative Biolabs

With over 20 years of experience in macrophage modeling and assay development, Creative Biolabs brings unrivaled scientific expertise and technical precision to every U937-based macrophage project.

Our services include:

Table 1 Key features of U937-based macrophage model development service

We are committed to providing:

• End-to-end service coverage—from model establishment to data analysis
• Expert guidance in study design and protocol selection
• Strict confidentiality and data security
• Accelerated timelines and high-quality deliverables

Related Products

The U937 cell line is a widely used monocyte model capable of mimicking a wide range of functional properties of human macrophages. Through our professional services, research teams have access to customized U937 cell models. In addition, we also offer a line of macrophage products, including high-purity macrophage cultures, stimulus-specific macrophage cell lines, and related reagents and tools.

Below are some of our popular products. You can click to view the details.

Service Features

Broad Assay Compatibility

Whether you're developing anti-inflammatory drugs, studying immunometabolism, or validating nanoparticle biocompatibility, we provide a biologically relevant, cost-effective solution.

Ready-to-Use, Format-Adaptable Cells

We deliver U937-derived macrophages in multiple formats. This flexibility allows seamless integration into your lab's workflow with minimal handling.

Consistency and Batch-to-Batch Reliability

We maintain strict quality control over all cell culture, differentiation, and validation steps. This reduces biological variability and ensures reliable, reproducible outcomes across repeated experiments.

Publications

U937 cells were round or oval under a light microscope and were small. They were suspended cells without protrusions or pseudopodia on the surface. After 24 h of differentiation induced by PMA, the cell morphology changed. The cell shapes were different, the volume was obviously increased, the cell aggregation phenomenon was obvious, and some cells grew pseudopodia. After immunofluorescence (IF) staining for CD68, the cell cytoplasm was obviously stained red, the nucleus was blue, and the cell differentiation rate reached more than 95%, which indicates that the U937 cells had differentiated and become human macrophages.

Fig. 1 U937 cells were differentiated into macrophages.^1,2

Scientific Resources

Learn More Macrophage Biology

Download Macrophages Development

Learn More Monocyte-Macrophage Development Process

Learn More Macrophage-related Experimental Protocols

Q & A

Q: Can you build customized models if I am interested in a specific signaling pathway or target?

A: Absolutely. Creative Biolabs provides highly customized U937 macrophage model development services, including gene overexpression or knockdown, specific pathway activation/inhibition, expression modulation of specific markers or receptors, or simulation modeling based on specific disease background. All you need to do is to provide your research objectives, and we will construct the model system that best meets your experimental needs, and provide comprehensive validation and analysis reports.

Q: What are the differences or advantages of the U937 model over other macrophage models such as THP-1 or RAW 264.7?

A: Each model has its unique advantages:

• THP-1 is a human-derived monocyte lineage, similar to U937, but U937 is more adherent to the wall after induced differentiation and is suitable for long-term culture.
• RAW 264.7 is a mouse-derived cell that inherently expresses many macrophage markers but lacks the relevance of the human source.
• With good induction flexibility, human background and scalability, U937 model is particularly suitable for studies on human immune-related mechanisms, tumor-immune interactions and immunomodulator screening.

We can assist you in choosing the most suitable model according to your research direction.

Q: Can you provide me with standardized procedures and lab reports?

A: Sure. Creative Biolabs' U937 macrophage model service is not only limited to cell construction, but also includes:

• Complete project design and implementation process;
• Detailed description of differentiation and polarization protocols;
• Morphological and molecular characterization data at key time points during the experimental process;
• Standardized test results and statistical analysis;

We always execute every project to scientific publication standards, ensuring that your subsequent use is hassle-free.

References

1. Zhang, Pengfei, et al. "The effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on autophagy in human macrophages stimulated by cigarette smoke extract." Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark 28.3 (2023): 50. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2803050
2. Under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.