Monocytederived

Monocyte-derived is an immunology term used to describe cells, tissues, or responses that originate from circulating monocytes. Monocytes exit the bloodstream and migrate into tissues, where they differentiate into macrophages or dendritic cells in response to local signals such as colony-stimulating factors and cytokines. In vitro, human monocytes can be cultured to generate monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) when treated with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) or monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) when exposed to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus interleukin-4 (IL-4).

In vivo, monocyte-derived macrophages contribute to host defense and tissue homeostasis through phagocytosis, production of reactive oxygen species, and cytokine secretion; they are one of several macrophage lineages alongside tissue-resident macrophages, which can originate from embryonic precursors. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells are potent antigen-presenting cells that prime T-cell responses. The balance between monocyte-derived cells and resident populations varies by tissue and inflammatory context.

Clinically, monocyte-derived cells are implicated in atherosclerosis, infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancer, where monocyte recruitment and differentiation shape disease progression. In research, distinguishing monocyte-derived cells from resident macrophages helps interpret experiments on inflammation, immunity, and tissue repair. Markers used to identify monocyte-derived cells vary by species and differentiation protocol, but generally include monocyte markers (such as CD14 in humans) and lineage-specific maturation markers for macrophages or dendritic cells.