Effects of AICAR and metformin on the phenotype of primary bone marrow derived macrophages. (A) FACS analysis showing a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced shift towards a M1 phenotype indicated by an increase of CD86 positive cells. This phenotype switch is significantly inhibited by AICAR. (n = 3). * p < 0.05, (B) Immunofluorescence showing CD86 and CD206 positive cells (both shown in red) in differentially treated bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) cultures. The cells were either incubated with vehicle, proinflammatory LPS, or antiinflammatory IL-4. Furthermore, the cells were co-incubated with LPS and AICAR, AICAR and adenosine kinase inhibitor ABT702, as well as metformin. IL-4-treated cells were also co-incubated with AICAR and metformin. The pictures show a representative analysis of three independent incubations. The cellular nuclei are visualized by DNA staining with 4′,6-Diamidin-2-phenylindol (DAPI) (blue). Scale Bar: 20 µm.