Macrophage News and Research

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A macrophage is a type of white blood cell that surrounds and kills microorganisms, removes dead cells, and stimulates the action of other immune system cells.

First human 'lung-on-chip' model developed using stem cells from a single donor

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and AlveoliX have developed the first human 'lung-on-chip' model using stem cells taken from only one person.

2 Jan 2026

Immune cell energy metabolism shapes the progression of atherosclerosis

Two complementary studies reveal how an insufficient supply of energy in macrophages, key immune cells in artery walls, drives the progression of atherosclerosis - and how this knowledge could lead to better diagnostics and future therapies.

30 Dec 2025

Splicing regulator U2AF1 promotes angiogenesis in cardiac injury

A study published in Engineering shows that a protein called U2 small nuclear RNA auxiliary factor 1 (U2AF1), released by immune cells known as macrophages, helps grow new blood vessels in the heart after a myocardial infarction (MI) by altering how the gene Yap1 is spliced.

22 Dec 2025

GDF3 protein sustains harmful inflammation in aging immune cells

As people age, their bodies develop a dysfunctional immune system, which can leave older adults more susceptible to conditions like sepsis.

15 Dec 2025

Human heart organoids enable new therapies for atrial fibrillation

Though an estimated 60 million people around the world have atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, a type of irregular and often fast heartbeat, it's been at least 30 years since any new treatments have been developed.

12 Dec 2025

Novel nanomedicine mPEG@ELA-11 shows potential in treating atherosclerosis

A pioneering study led by researchers from Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Naval Medical University has unveiled a novel nanomedicine, mPEG@ELA-11, which demonstrates significant potential in treating atherosclerosis (AS), a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases globally.

12 Dec 2025

Researchers unravel why mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 can cause heart damage

Stanford Medicine investigators have unearthed the biological process by which mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 can cause heart damage in some young men and adolescents - and they've shown a possible route to reducing its likelihood.

10 Dec 2025

Targeted approach of immunotherapy improves sepsis outcomes

Immunotherapy for sepsis is effective when doctors tailor the treatment precisely to the patient's immune system condition.

8 Dec 2025

Novel antibody suppresses primary tumor growth and spread of triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of breast cancer. It grows quickly, spreads early and lacks the hormone receptors that make other breast cancers treatable with targeted therapies.

5 Dec 2025

Injectable scaffold vaccine shows strong protection against implant-related MRSA

Research reveals that silica scaffolds can train the immune system against S. aureus, offering a novel approach to prevent orthopedic device infections.

4 Dec 2025

Tattoo ink alters immune cells and weakens some vaccine responses

New research shows tattoo pigments migrate to lymph nodes, causing inflammation and altering immune responses to vaccines, with potential health risks.

27 Nov 2025

New study links inherited mitochondrial DNA mutation to disrupted immune balance

Scientists have discovered how a mitochondrial mutation rewires immune function in a model of inherited primary mitochondrial disorders, which often lead to severe disability and death.

26 Nov 2025

Discovery of unexpected mechanism may help improve healing across muscle injuries

At the cellular level, the mechanics of how muscle tissue repair occurs gets complicated. There are significant differences between, say, tearing a muscle in a sports injury versus muscle tissue wasting away from diseases like muscular dystrophy.

21 Nov 2025

Toxin-secreting gut bacterium emerges as a driver of ulcerative colitis

A toxin-secreting gut bacterium may fuel ulcerative colitis by killing protective immune cells that maintain intestinal homeostasis, according to a new study. The findings suggest potential for new treatment strategies.

20 Nov 2025

AI analysis of biopsy slides predicts rectal cancer treatment response

Artificial intelligence (AI) can predict how well patients with rectal cancer will respond to treatment by analyzing standard tissue samples taken during diagnosis, finds a new study from researchers at UCL and UCLH.

19 Nov 2025

Understanding leptin's dual function in MAFLD pathogenesis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a predominant chronic liver condition globally, intricately linked with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome.

14 Nov 2025

Genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying steatotic liver disease

Steatotic liver disease (SLD), mainly encompassing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and metabolic dysfunction and ALD (MetALD), has emerged as the dominant cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, displacing viral hepatitis as the primary aetiology.

10 Nov 2025

How walnuts combat inflammation and oxidative stress in the body

This review in Food Science & Nutrition synthesizes evidence showing that walnuts (Juglans regia L.) exert potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, apoptosis-regulatory, and immunomodulatory effects through bioactive compounds influencing mitochondrial, cytokine, and redox pathways.

3 Nov 2025

Northwestern team develops antibody to expose hidden pancreatic cancer cells

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously hard to treat and often resists the most advanced immunotherapies. Northwestern Medicine scientists have uncovered a novel explanation for that resistance: Pancreatic tumors use a sugar-based disguise to hide from the immune system.

3 Nov 2025