Assays

We describe a distinct macrophage population, whose presence in the liver during homoeostasis depends on recruitment signals mediated by the chemokine receptor CCR2. The identified polarization state of this population closely resembles that induced in co-culture experiments, where hepatocytes are reducing the availability of TGFb to macrophages. Accordingly, disruption of TGFb signal transduction in macrophages phenocopies the influence of hepatocytes on macrophage polarization.

Transcriptomics: the RNA expression of primary hepatocytes and BMDM (Bone Marrow–Derived acrophages) were analysed in 4 different conditions (mono- vs. co-culture, hepatocytes and macrophages) with 5 replicas each to detect the impact of hepatocytes on macrophages and vice versa.