scholarly journals The Impact of the Tumor Microenvironment on Macrophage Polarization in Cancer Metastatic Progression

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6560
Author(s):  
Huogang Wang ◽  
Mingo M. H. Yung ◽  
Hextan Y. S. Ngan ◽  
Karen K. L. Chan ◽  
David W. Chan

Rather than primary solid tumors, metastasis is one of the hallmarks of most cancer deaths. Metastasis is a multistage event in which cancer cells escape from the primary tumor survive in the circulation and disseminate to distant sites. According to Stephen Paget's “Seed and Soil” hypothesis, metastatic capacity is determined not only by the internal oncogenic driving force but also by the external environment of tumor cells. Throughout the body, macrophages are required for maintaining tissue homeostasis, even in the tumor milieu. To fulfill these multiple functions, macrophages are polarized from the inflammation status (M1-like) to anti-inflammation status (M2-like) to maintain the balance between inflammation and regeneration. However, tumor cell-enforced tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) (a high M2/M1 ratio status) are associated with poor prognosis for most solid tumors, such as ovarian cancer. In fact, clinical evidence has verified that TAMs, representing up to 50% of the tumor mass, exert both protumor and immunosuppressive effects in promoting tumor metastasis through secretion of interleukin 10 (IL10), transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), and VEGF, expression of PD-1 and consumption of arginine to inhibit T cell anti-tumor function. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment favors reprogramming of macrophages to TAMs to establish a premetastatic niche remain controversial. In this review, we examine the latest investigations of TAMs during tumor development, the microenvironmental factors involved in macrophage polarization, and the mechanisms of TAM-mediated tumor metastasis. We hope to dissect the critical roles of TAMs in tumor metastasis, and the potential applications of TAM-targeted therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment are discussed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Schmied ◽  
Petter Höglund ◽  
Stephan Meinke

The growing insights in the complex interactions between metastatic cancer-cells and platelets have revealed that platelet tumor cell interactions in the blood stream are an important factor supporting tumor metastasis. An increased coagulability of platelets facilitates the vascular evasion and establishment of solid tumor metastasis. Furthermore, platelets can support an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment or shield tumor cells directly from engagement of cytotoxic lymphocytes as e.g., natural killer (NK) cells. Platelets are both in the tumor microenvironment and systemically the quantitatively most important source of TGF-β, which is a key cytokine for immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. If similar platelet-tumor interactions are of physiological relevance in hematological malignancies remains less well-studied. This might be important, as T- and NK cell mediated graft vs. leukemia effects (GvL) are well-documented and malignant hematological cells have a high exposure to platelets compared to solid tumors. As NK cell-based immunotherapies gain increasing attention as a therapeutic option for patients suffering from hematological and other malignancies, we review the known interactions between platelets and NK cells in the solid tumor setting and discuss how these could also apply to hematological cancers. We furthermore explore the possible implications for NK cell therapy in patients with solid tumors and patients who depend on frequent platelet transfusions. As platelets have a protective and supportive effect on cancer cells, the impact of platelet transfusion on immunotherapy and the combination of immunotherapy with platelet inhibitors needs to be evaluated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A737-A737
Author(s):  
Loise Francisco-Anderson ◽  
Loise Francisco-Anderson ◽  
Mary Abdou ◽  
Michael Goldberg ◽  
Erin Troy ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe small intestinal axis (SINTAX) is a network of anatomic and functional connections between the small intestine and the rest of the body. It acts as an immunosurveillance system, integrating signals from the environment that affect physiological processes throughout the body. The impact of events in the gut in the control of tumor immunity is beginning to be appreciated. We have previously shown that an orally delivered single strain of commensal bacteria induces anti-tumor immunity preclinically via pattern recognition receptor-mediated activation of innate and adaptive immunity. Some bacteria produce extracellular vesicles (EVs) that share molecular content with the parent bacterium in a particle that is roughly 1/1000th the volume in a non-replicating form. We report here an orally-delivered and gut-restricted bacterial EV which potently attenuates tumor growth to a greater extent than whole bacteria or checkpoint inhibition.MethodsEDP1908 is a preparation of extracellular vesicles produced by a gram-stain negative strain of bacterium of the Oscillospiraceae family isolated from a human donor. EDP1908 was selected for its immunostimulatory profile in a screen of EVs from a range of distinct microbial strains. Its mechanism of action was determined by ex vivo analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and by in vitro functional studies with murine and human cells.ResultsOral treatment of tumor-bearing mice with EDP1908 shows superior control of tumor growth compared to checkpoint inhibition (anti-PD-1) or an intact microbe. EDP1908 significantly increased the percentage of IFNγ and TNF producing CD8+ CTLs, NK cells, NKT cells and CD4+ cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). EDP1908 also increased tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells (DC1 and DC2). Analysis of cytokines in the TME showed significant increases in IP-10 and IFNg production in mice treated with EDP1908, creating an environment conducive to the recruitment and activation of anti-tumor lymphocytes.ConclusionsThis is the first report of striking anti-tumor effects of an orally delivered microbial extracellular vesicle. These data point to oral EVs as a new class of immunotherapeutic drugs. They are particularly effective at harnessing the biology of the small intestinal axis, acting locally on host cells in the gut to control distal immune responses within the TME. EDP1908 is in preclinical development for the treatment of cancer.Ethics ApprovalPreclinical murine studies were conducted under the approval of the Avastus Preclinical Services’ Ethics Board. Human in vitro samples were attained by approval of the IntegReview Ethics Board; informed consent was obtained from all subjects.


Author(s):  
Jiansheng Liu ◽  
Xueqin Qing ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Ningyue Yu ◽  
Mengbin Ding ◽  
...  

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has provided a promising approach for treatment of solid tumors, while the therapeutic efficacy is often limited due to hypoxic tumor microenvironment, resulting in tumor metastasis. We...


Author(s):  
Victor Delprat ◽  
Carine Michiels

AbstractCancer progression largely depends on tumor blood vessels as well on immune cell infiltration. In various tumors, vascular cells, namely endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes, strongly regulate leukocyte infiltration into tumors and immune cell activation, hence the immune response to cancers. Recently, a lot of compelling studies unraveled the molecular mechanisms by which tumor vascular cells regulate monocyte and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and phenotype, and consequently tumor progression. Reciprocally, TAMs and monocytes strongly modulate tumor blood vessel and tumor lymphatic vessel formation by exerting pro-angiogenic and lymphangiogenic effects, respectively. Finally, the interaction between monocytes/TAMs and vascular cells is also impacting several steps of the spread of cancer cells throughout the body, a process called metastasis. In this review, the impact of the bi-directional dialog between blood vascular cells and monocytes/TAMs in the regulation of tumor progression is discussed. All together, these data led to the design of combinations of anti-angiogenic and immunotherapy targeting TAMs/monocyte whose effects are briefly discussed in the last part of this review.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 2534-2543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changjun He ◽  
Kaibin Zhu ◽  
Xue Bai ◽  
Yingbin Li ◽  
Dawei Sun ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Assistance with tumor-associated vascularization is needed for the growth and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, it was shown that placental growth factor (PLGF) expressed by NSCLC cells had a critical role in promoting the metastasis of NSCLC cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Methods: Here, we first established a NSCLC model in mice that allows us not only to isolate tumor cells from non-tumor cells in the tumor, but also to trace tumor cells in living animals. Levels of PLGF, its unique receptor Flt-1, as well as transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) was examined in tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) by RT-qPCR. A transwell well co-culture system and HUVEC assay were applied to study the crosstalk between NSCLC cells and TAM. Results: NSCLC cells produced and secreted PLGF to signal to tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) through surface expression of Flt-1 on macrophages. In a transwell co-culture system, PLGF secreted by NSCLC cells triggered macrophage polarization to a TAM subtype that promote growth of NSCLC cells. Moreover, polarized TAM seemed to secrete TGFβ1 to enhance the growth of endothelial cells in a HUVEC assay. Conclusion: The cross-talk between TAM and NSCLC cells via PLGF/Flt-1 and TGFβ receptor signaling may promote the growth and vascularization of NSCLC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Gonzalez-Aparicio ◽  
Carlos Alfaro

In this review, we will highlight several studies that revolve around interleukin-8 (IL-8) and show the multiple facets that could take in the tumor microenvironment. Chemokines that attract neutrophils (to a large extent, IL-8) can have a bimodal behavior inducing the migration of them in the first place and later favoring the formation of NETs in the place of emission focus of the chemokine. Also, this mechanism occurs when neutrophils migrate to tumor cells and where the extrusion of NETs in the tumor is observed. A possible participation of NETs in cancer progression was considered; however, until now, it is difficult to decide if NETosis plays a pro- or antitumor role, although it is necessary to emphasize that there is more experimentation focused on the protumorigenic aspect of the NETs. The formation of NETs has a relevant role in the inhibition of the immune response against the tumor generated by neutrophils and in turn favoring the processes involved in the development of tumor metastasis. It is striking that we do not have more complete information about the effects of circulating chemokines on neutrophils in cancer patients and hence the suitability of this review. No one has observed to date the impact that it could have on other cell populations to inhibit the arrival of neutrophils and the formation/elimination of NETs. However, the extent to which NETs affect the function of other cells of the immune system in the tumor context has not been directly demonstrated. It is necessary to identify possible combinations of immunotherapy that involve the modulation of neutrophil activity with other strategies (immunomodulatory antibodies or adoptive cell therapy). Therefore, knowing the mechanisms by which tumors take advantage of this ability of neutrophils to form NETs is very important in the search for antitumor therapies and thus be able to take advantage of the possible immunotherapeutic combinations that we currently have in clinical practice.


2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 5810-5816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho ◽  
Ricardo T. Fujiwara ◽  
Erik J. Stemmy ◽  
Denise Olive ◽  
Jesse M. Damsker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The impact of the interaction between excreted and/or secreted (ES) Necator americanus products and NK cells from Necator-infected individuals was analyzed. We investigated the binding of ES products to NK cells, the expression of NK cell receptors (CD56, CD159a/NKG2A, CD314/NKG2D, CD335/NKp46, and KLRF1/NKp80), the frequency of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing NK cells after whole-blood in vitro stimulation, and the capacity of N. americanus ES products to induce NK cell chemotaxis. In contrast to those from noninfected individuals, NK cells from Necator-infected individuals demonstrated no binding with N. americanus ES products. This phenomenon was not due to alterations in NK cell receptor expression in infected subjects and could not be reproduced with NK cells from uninfected individuals by incubation with immunoregulatory cytokines (interleukin-10/transforming growth factor β). Further, we found that a significantly greater percentage of NK cells from infected subjects than NK cells from uninfected individuals spontaneously produced IFN-γ upon ex vivo culture. Our findings support a model whereby NK cells from Necator-infected individuals may interact with ES products, making these cells refractory to binding with exogenous ES products. During N. americanus infection, human NK cells are attracted to the site of infection by chemotactic ES products produced by adult Necator worms in the gut mucosa. Binding of ES products causes the NK cells to become activated and secrete IFN-γ locally, thereby contributing to the adult hookworm's ability to evade host immune responses.


2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 4345-4354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Strauss ◽  
Christoph Bergmann ◽  
Miroslaw Szczepanski ◽  
William Gooding ◽  
Jonas T. Johnson ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Pietro Poggio ◽  
Matteo Sorge ◽  
Laura Seclì ◽  
Mara Brancaccio

HSP90 is released by cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment where it associates with different co-chaperones generating complexes with specific functions, ranging from folding and activation of extracellular clients to the stimulation of cell surface receptors. Emerging data indicate that these functions are essential for tumor growth and progression. The understanding of the exact composition of extracellular HSP90 complexes and the molecular mechanisms at the basis of their functions in the tumor microenvironment may represent the first step to design innovative diagnostic tools and new effective therapies. Here we review the impact of extracellular HSP90 complexes on cancer cell signaling and behavior.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2393-2393
Author(s):  
Yusuke Torikoshi ◽  
Asumi Yokota ◽  
Naoka Kamio ◽  
Atsushi Sato ◽  
Tsukimi Shouji ◽  
...  

Abstract Accumulating evidence has suggested that low body temperature is associated with the risk of infection. Unintentional drops in the body temperature known as "accidental hypothermia" are occasionally accompanied with infections. Patients under therapeutic hypothermia for post-cardiac arrest care are also susceptible to infections. In addition, secondary hypothermia caused by severe sepsis is significantly associated with higher mortality. These observations suggest the negative impact of hypothermia on host defense. Neutrophils are continuously produced in the bone marrow (BM) and supplied to the peripheral blood (PB) or tissues, where they fight against microorganisms. In addition to the neutrophil functions, sufficient supply of neutrophils is a critical determinant of host defense. However, little is known about the impact of hypothermia on granulopoiesis, the process of neutrophil production in the BM. In this study, we investigated the changes in granulopoiesis under hypothermic conditions. We first analyzed the neutrophils in the PB of mice exposed to low environmental temperature (4 °C). Under this condition, rectal temperature of the mice significantly declined from 36.7±0.4 °C to 35.5±0.4 °C. After 72-hour exposure to the low environmental temperature, PB neutrophil counts were significantly decreased. In order to understand the reason for the decrease, we analyzed their BMs by flow cytometry. Previously we developed a unique strategy to divide cells undergoing granulopoiesis into 5 subpopulations based on the expression of c-kit and Ly6G, which reflect successive differentiation/maturation from #1 (c-kithi Ly6G-) to #5 (c-kit- Ly6Ghi) (Satake S and Hirai H et al. J Immunol, 2012). In BM cells of the mice exposed to the low environmental temperature, a significant decrease in mature neutrophils (#5) and a significant increase in cellular intermediates (#3 and #4) were observed, while total BM cell numbers were unchanged. In order to clarify whether these changes were cell-intrinsic or -extrinsic, total BM cells were cultured in vitro at either 35 °C or 37 °C in the presence of G-CSF. Flow cytometric analysis of these cultured BM cells at 72 hours revealed the increase in the intermediates (#2 to #4) and a decrease in the mature subpopulation (#5), suggesting that these alterations were cell-intrinsic phenomena. When neutrophil precursors (#1 or #2) were purified by cell sorter and subjected to in vitro culture at 35 °C for 48 hours, the number of resultant mature neutrophils (#5) were significantly less than those induced at 37 °C. These results clearly indicate that hypothermia delayed neutrophil differentiation/maturation. Interestingly, mice with sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) accompanied with lower body temperature revealed significantly fewer PB granulocytes and shorter survival when compared to those mice which maintained normal body temperature after CLP. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation/maturation delay induced by hypothermia, we performed RNA sequencing of purified neutrophil precursors (#2) after 24-hour culture either at 35 °C or 37 °C. Interestingly, we found alterations in amino acid metabolic pathways and target genes of C/EBP, which is the transcription factor family required for granulopoiesis and cellular metabolism. Collectively, these results indicate hypothermia causes neutropenia through delayed neutrophil differentiation/maturation. We are currently analyzing metabolic changes to understand more precise molecular mechanisms by which hypothermia regulates granulopoiesis. This study will facilitate the understanding of host defense at low body temperature, and shed novel insight into the management of hypothermia in patients. Disclosures Kashiwagi: Takara Bio Inc.: Employment. Hirai:Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Research Funding; Novartis Pharma: Research Funding.


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