RNA-seq of primary human M2-polarized macrophages cultured in either high-concentration or low-concentration type I collagen.

M2-polarized macrophages have been shown to adapt their migration mode to physical properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix. They migrate in the integrin-mediated adhesion and proteolytic activity-dependent mesenchymal mode in stiff matrices, and in the integrin- and protease-independent amoeboid mode in low density, porous environments. To find out what impact has the switching between the migration modes on expression of both protein-coding and non-coding genes we employed RNA sequencing of total RNA depleted of ribosomal RNA isolated from M2 macrophages migrating in three-dimensional collagen gels of high or low concentration for 48 hours.