Picture of the Month: Scavenger cells under the microscope Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics studies macrophages

The picture of the month January 2025 was taken with a light microscope and shows macrophages, a type of immune cell differentiated from bone marrow stem cells in mice. The Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at Technische Universität Braunschweig is investigating the connection between misprogrammed defence mechanisms and chronic inflammatory diseases in a Collaborative Research Centre.

Macrophages (labelled cells) under the light microscope. Picture credits: Antonia Henne/Shirin Hosseini

Monocytes are formed in the bone marrow and are released into the blood to circulate throughout the body. When monocytes enter tissues, they develop into macrophages. They are part of the innate immune response and play a crucial role as the first line of defence against pathogens. For example, they can ingest and break down bacteria through a process called phagocytosis, directly preventing uncontrolled proliferation. Phagocytosis is the process by which specialised cells ingest particles, microorganisms or fluids from outside the cell.

The picture was taken as part of research in the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1454 ‘Metaflammation and Cellular Programming’. The Collaborative Research Centre focuses on metaflammation – a permanent, subliminal inflammation in the body. “We are investigating the metabolism of macrophages, which metabolic changes influence their function and how these can be counteracted,” says Antonia Henne, a researcher in the CRC.