Murine macrophages are immune cell that play a crucial role in biomedical research. They are derived from mice and are widely used as a model system to study various aspects of immunology, inflammation, infection, and cancer. Macrophages are a part of the innate immune system and are found in almost all tissues throughout the body. They are responsible for engulfing and digesting cellular debris, pathogens, and foreign substances through a process called phagocytosis. Additionally, macrophages play a critical role in initiating and regulating immune responses by producing various signaling molecules called cytokines.

In biomedical research, murine macrophages are commonly isolated from the peritoneal cavity, bone marrow, spleen, or lung tissues of mice. These cells can be obtained by several methods such as lavage, enzymatic digestion, or magnetic bead separation. Once isolated, murine macrophages can be cultured in vitro and used for various experimental purposes.

They are a valuable tool in biomedical research due to their central role in immune responses where the cells can be infected with pathogens and investigations conducted on how these pathogens are recognized and eliminated. Inflammatory responses are tightly regulated by macrophages, which release pro-inflammatory cytokines upon activation. By manipulating murine macrophages in vitro or in vivo, one can investigate the molecular pathways involved in inflammation and identify potential therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, infection, and cancer where Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a specialized subset of macrophages that infiltrate tumors and can either promote or inhibit tumor growth. They provide a model system that allows scientists to investigate various aspects of immunology and develop new therapeutic strategies. The use of murine macrophages has significantly contributed to understanding of the immune system and its role in health and disease.