Protocol for Macrophage Depletion from Mice

Abstract

Macrophage depletion has been used extensively to study autoimmune disease and more recently in tumor models. The clodronate-containing liposomes will be recognized as foreign particles and get engulfed by macrophages upon dosing into the animal by the chosen routes. Consequently, macrophages that have engulfed liposomes will all be destroyed by the liposomal. In the protocol presented here the clodronate-containing liposomes were used to systemically deplete macrophages in mice.