Hi,
Currently I'm working with THP-1 cells which I've differentiated to macrophages using PMA. After stimulating them with a pathogen i'm seening these ''white'' dots and it looks like the macrophages are transporting them to one another. Can someone clarify this? See picture.
Kind regards,
Hi,
Macrophages usually form colonies when they differentiate. This is called clonal differentiation. Now certain pathogens can trigger further differentiation or maturation in macrophages after infection. I have observed that in my line of work after Leishmania infection. Infact i have observed such white spots as well. Further I had worked with a isolated mushroom polysaccharide which had also produced such white dots, coming together of macrophages after stimulation . There is no report of transporting in macrophages rather this is a colony forming behaviour. Attracting other macropahges probably with chemokines. It may be triggered by your pathogen. Also observe how PMA changes your THP-1 cells to macropahges. Look out for those white dots. It may help you stumble onto something more.
We also see same type of "dots" in the THP-1 following PMA-differentiation. We simply stained them with May-Grünwald Giemsa and they do not stain. There is a possibility that can be vacuoles or (auto)phagosomes that would be carrying lipid droplets. No idea about their transport, time-lapse mic. screening may be useful.
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