The transcriptomic analytical level determines the human monocyte-derived macrophage response toward either the infectious agent or the host

Macrophages exhibit multifunctional activity and play a central role in the response toinfectious agents. It is commonly accepted that the plasticity of the response of macrophagesdepends on the type of stimuli. Here we re-evaluate whether the macrophage response isonly dependent on the stimulus. We analyzed the transcriptomic profile of monocyte-derivedmacrophages (MDMs) that were activated with several pathogens and multiple in vitrostimulations.The transcriptomic data were normalized using matched-pair analysis. Furtheranalysis showed a clustering association with (i) specific signatures of the infectious agentand its strategy as well as (ii) a preponderance of MDM overall responses related toindividuals. Currently, the null hypothesis H0 is that the innate MDM response is globallyassociated with the pathogen. Our results reveal that the global innate MDM response isintrinsically and predominantly associated with the individual. Thus, the hypothesis issupported or negated depending on the transcriptomic analytical level