From:  Unraveling the connection: M2 macrophage polarization and cancer metabolism

 Differences between M1 and M2 macrophages

MacrophagesM1M2
ActivationTLR, TNF-α, IFN-γ, CSF2IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TGF-β, PGE2
SecretionIL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-αIL-10, IL-4, EGF, TGF-β, IL-19
MarkersHLA-DR, CD11c, CD86, iNOS, pSTAT1CD136, CD204, CD206, VEGF, cMAF
FunctionPro-inflammatory, microbicidal, anti-tumoralAnti-inflammatory, wound healing, pro-tumoral

TLR: toll-like receptor; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor alpha; IFN-γ: interferon-gamma; CSF2: granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor 2; IL: interleukin; TGF-β: transforming growth factor β; PGE2: prostaglandin E2; EGF: epithelial growth factor; HLA-DR: human leukocyte antigen-DR isotype; CD: cluster of differentiation; iNOS: inducible nitric oxide synthase; pSTAT1: phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; cMAF: cellular microenvironment-associated factor. References: [24, 58]