Fig. 4: The phenotypes and functions of the self-renewing macrophages.

a, b In a, the self-renewing macrophages (lower) and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (upper) were analyzed for the expression of cell surface proteins indicated by flow cytometry. In b, they were analyzed for their macropinocytic (left) or phagocytic activities (right) by flow cytometry. In the right panels, the percentage of cells with phagocytic activities was also shown. MFI mean fluorescence intensity. c The self-renewing macrophages (lower) and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (upper) were cultured in the presence of rhM-CSF alone or copresence with liposomal clodronate for 2 days. Their survival was assessed using the MTT assay. The number of cells is shown by setting the value of the control (liposomal clodronate free) as 100% (mean ± SD, n = 3), *p < 0.05. d The self-renewing macrophages (lower) and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (upper) were analyzed for the relative levels of multiple cytokines and chemokines in their culture supernatants using an antibody array. e The self-renewing macrophages (circle) and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (square) were cultured for 2 days in the presence of rhM-CSF and the indicated concentration of LPS. The concentration of TNF-α (upper) or IL-6 (lower) in the supernatants were quantified by ELISA (mean ± SD, n = 3). *p < 0.05.