Generation of Functionally Active Resident Macrophages From Adipose Tissue by 3D Cultures

This study introduces a novel 3D culture method for generating functionally active resident macrophages from adipose tissue (AT) without cell sorting. Using stroma-vascular cells from murine subcutaneous AT, researchers cultivated macrophages that closely resemble in-vivo AT resident macrophages in terms of genic, phenotypic, metabolic, and functional characteristics. The 3D culture system effectively preserves the intrinsic properties of these macrophages, providing a valuable tool for exploring their differentiation and function in various contexts. The study highlights that AT-derived macrophages exhibit higher metabolic activity and a unique cytokine production profile compared to bone marrow-derived macrophages, suggesting AT as a viable source for macrophage generation for research and therapeutic purposes.