Oncolytic vesicular stomatitis viruses selectively target M2 macrophages.

Macrophages have been identified as key players within the tumor microenvironment, with classically (M1) and alternatively (M2) activated macrophages exhibiting anti-tumoral and pro-tumoral functions, respectively. The goal of this study was to determine the response of macrophage populations to infection with oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into various macrophage subsets and infected with wild-type (rwt virus) or matrix (M) protein mutant (rM51R-M virus) strains of VSV.