Quantitative profiling of glycerophospholipids during mouse and human macrophage differentiation using targeted mass spectrometry

Macrophage lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in innate and adaptive immune responses. Previous studies have shown that this process plays a role in infections and contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetes, atherosclerosis, and other immunometabolic diseases. M1 macrophages, or classically activated macrophages, are key players in the defense against bacterial infections. M2 macrophages, or alternatively activated macrophages, are involved in anti-inflammatory responses. Using the multiple reaction monitoring method, we identified changes in lipid composition during the differentiation of human and murine macrophages. We detected over 300 lipid molecules in mammalian macrophages, and we observed a striking shift in the composition of glycerophospholipids (GLs) from saturated and monounsaturated to polyunsaturated during human macrophage polarization. Moreover, M2 macrophages showed a higher level of lysophospholipids (lysoGLs) than did M1 macrophages. The lysoPI species increased in human and mouse M2 macrophages, suggesting that they may be involved in M2 macrophage polarization and anti-inflammatory processes. Collectively, these results indicate that lipids may play a role in the pro- and anti-inflammatory activities of macrophages and may be markers of the macrophage activation state.