Approaches for studying human macrophages

Differences and similarities between human and mouse macrophages call for more human-centric studies. Hematopoiesis in the yolk sac, aorta–gonad–mesonephros (AGM) region, and fetal liver contributes to human macrophage ontogeny during prenatal development. Due to technical limitations, studying human macrophage biology is still in its infancy; however, studies can be accelerated by combining cutting-edge approaches that include single-cell methods and analyses, human organoid platforms, novel animal models, and computational biology. Macrophages are vital tissue components involved in organogenesis, maintaining homeostasis, and responses to disease. Mouse models have significantly improved our understanding of macrophages. Further investigations into the characteristics and development of human macrophages are crucial, considering the substantial anatomical and physiological distinctions between mice and humans. Despite challenges in human macrophage research, recent studies are shedding light on the ontogeny and function of human macrophages. In this opinion, we propose combinations of cutting-edge approaches to examine the diversity, development, niche, and function of human tissue-resident macrophages. These methodologies can facilitate our exploration of human macrophages more efficiently, ideally providing new therapeutic avenues for macrophage-relevant disorders. Macrophages are vital tissue components involved in organogenesis, maintaining homeostasis, and responses to disease. Mouse models have significantly improved our understanding of macrophages. Further investigations into the characteristics and development of human macrophages are crucial, considering the substantial anatomical and physiological distinctions between mice and humans. Despite challenges in human macrophage research, recent studies are shedding light on the ontogeny and function of human macrophages. In this opinion, we propose combinations of cutting-edge approaches to examine the diversity, development, niche, and function of human tissue-resident macrophages. These methodologies can facilitate our exploration of human macrophages more efficiently, ideally providing new therapeutic avenues for macrophage-relevant disorders. computational methods to identify the mitochondrial mutations in each single cell. mitochondrial mutations in single cells can be used as natural genetic barcodes to identify lineage trajectories. time-series scRNA-seq profiling of a biological process to reconstruct the differentiation trajectory of a certain cell type or population. ordered gene expression along actual time or pseudo-time.