Practical Approaches in M2 Macrophage Biology: Analysis, Pharmacology, and Didactical Interpretation of M2 Macrophage Functions

Abstract

This chapter overviews the practical aspects of M2 macrophage analysis, such as the work with various types of macrophages and the choice and analysis of M2 marker mRNA and proteins. M2 macrophages have biomedical impact, and pharmacological reprogramming of macrophage activation has gained attention in the past decade. In certain diseases the induction of M2 activation is a desired therapeutic aim, most importantly in metabolic diseases, where promoting M2 activation within metabolic organs is a tool to reduce chronic inflammation. Although inducing an M2 macrophage state is desired in chronic inflammatory diseases, the restoration of anticancer immunity requires the blockage of M2 activation. The pharmacology of M2 macrophage activation, and inhibition of M2 macrophage functions, are overviewed in this chapter. Finally, some didactic approaches are shown that have practical application in interpreting M2 macrophage functions and in aiding scientific communication and university teaching of the theory of M2 macrophage biology.