Hybridization-chain-reaction is a relevant method for in situ detection of M2d-like macrophages in a mini-pig model.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Macrophages are a heterogeneous population of cells with an important role in innate immunity and tissue regeneration. Based on in vitro experiments, macrophages have been subdivided into five distinct subtypes named M1, M2a, M2b, M2c, and M2d, depending on the means of their activation and the cell surface markers they display. Whether all subtypes can be detected in vivo is still unclear. The identification of macrophages in vivo in the regenerating muscle could be used as a new diagnostic tool to monitor therapeutic strategies for tissue repair. The use of classical immunolabeling techniques is unable to discriminate between different M2 macrophages and a functional characterization of these macrophages is lacking. Using in situ hybridization coupled with hybridization-chain-reaction detection (HCR), we achieved the identification of M2d-like macrophages within regenerating muscle and applied this technique to understand the role of M2 macrophages in the regeneration of irradiated pig-muscle after adipose tissue stem cell treatment. Our work highlights the limits of immunolabeling and the usefulness of HCR analysis to provide valuable information for macrophage characterization.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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