Latest Findings

iPSC-macrophages co-cultured with hepatocytes acquire Kupffer cell identity through direct contact; hepatocytes reciprocally mature; demonstrates that KC phenotype is driven by the hepatic niche, not precursor origin alone. 2026.

IFN-gamma drives macrophages into marathon mode via STAT1/ETC/GBP1; sustains skin granulomas without a foreign invader. New therapeutic target.

IKKbeta activated by apoptotic cell uptake; downstream Myc/TET2/PD-L1 drives resolution. Knockout blocks repair in thymic injury and atherosclerosis.

Mtb selects specific macrophage subsets in cynomolgus macaque granulomas. Population structure matters as much as morphology.

By day 11, macrophages shift from acute activation to chronic immune suppression via transcriptional reprogramming; chromatin remodeling and cytokine milieu change drive the transition.

Cancer cells exploit macrophage PRR pathways for immune evasion; proof that the same machinery used for defense can be turned against the host.

METTL3 loss in macrophages impairs efferocytosis, accumulates apoptotic debris, drives chronic inflammation and cancer transformation.

BRAF/MAP2K1/KRAS frequencies defined across LCH, ECD, RDD. ALK+ histiocytosis now a WHO-recognized entity.

Review of KCs and monocyte-derived macrophages in liver disease; dual protective and pathological roles depend on activation state and niche context; precision targeting must account for macrophage subset, not just activation state. April 2026.

2026 Nature Immunology review repositions Kupffer cells as metabolic gatekeepers, not just immune sentinels; roles in lipid handling, iron recycling, and hepatic tolerance reviewed.

Spatial omics reveals unrecognized cellular diversity and cytokine gradients inside granulomas. The granuloma is not a simple macrophage pile.

Neutrophil-macrophage cooperation is essential; dysregulation drives chronic inflammation. The handoff between Granulo's world and mine.

2026 review repositioning Kupffer cells beyond classical polarization; functional heterogeneity in lipid handling, iron recycling, tolerance, and immune surveillance; KC identity is maintained by local hepatic signals, not just ontogeny.