What is the difference between M1 and M2 macrophages and how can you differentiate them?

Posted April 24, 2020

Answer

M1 macrophages are seen to be involved in pro-inflammatory and immune responses. CD80, CD86, iNOS, and MHC-II are all markers that can be used to identify M1 macrophages.

Meanwhile, M2 macrophages are involved with cell proliferation and tissue repair, and can be identified by cell surface markers CD206, CD209, and CD163.

Additional resources

Yao, Y., Xu, X. H., & Jin, L. (2019). Macrophage Polarization in Physiological and Pathological Pregnancy. Frontiers in immunology, 10, 792. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00792

Orecchioni, M., Ghosheh, Y., Pramod, A.B., Ley, K. (2019). Macrophage Polarization: Different Gene Signatures in M1(LPS+) vs. Classically and M2(LPS–) vs. Alternatively Activated Macrophages. Frontiers in immunology, 10, 1084. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.01084