Characterization of murine macrophages.

This unit describes the phenotypic characterization of macrophages through the use of fluorescence-labeled monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that have specificity for certain extracellular membrane proteins expressed by macrophages. Although macrophages have no distinctive cell-surface antigen that allows for their enrichment, a specific set of markers can be used to distinguish macrophages from other cell types in a heterogeneous population of cells. The method can also be easily applied to cells from other sources, e.g., peritoneal exudates or spleen. Through the use of image or flow cytometry, these cells can be identified and (with flow cytometry) sorted out from a heterogeneous population for further culture or analysis.