Why are cryopreserved macrophages abbreviated as hMDM‑GMCSF(–) and hMDM‑MCSF(–)? What does the “(–)” mean?

The abbreviations hMDM‑GMCSF(-) and hMDM‑MCSF(-) describe the origin, polarization, and activation state of the cryopreserved macrophages.
 
Meaning of the abbreviations
hMDM‑GMCSF(-):
hMDM: human monocyte‑derived macrophages
GM‑CSF: cells were differentiated (polarized) using GM‑CSF
(-): cells are not activated
→ These cells represent non‑activated M1‑polarized macrophages
hMDM‑MCSF(-):
hMDM: human monocyte‑derived macrophages
M‑CSF: cells were differentiated (polarized) using M‑CSF
(-): cells are not activated
→ These cells represent non‑activated M2‑polarized macrophages
 
Culture and activation

• Seed the macrophages in fibronectin‑coated tissue culture vessels
• After plating, they form biologically functional adherent cultures and can be maintained for several weeks
• Optional, user‑defined activation can be performed after seeding, depending on the experimental setup

Further details on polarization and activation options are provided in the Application Note "Standardized culture of assay-ready and fully functional human primary macrophages".