MRC1 and neoplasm: When monocytes were differentiated with M-CSF in the presence of α2,3 sialic acid dendrimers, the differentiated macrophages showed increased CD163 and CD206 expression, as well as increased IL-6 production, indicating that α2,3 sialic acids contribute to the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages with immune suppressive properties similar to tumour-associated macrophage (Fig. 6A-C).