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Goenka A, Khan F, Verma B, Sinha P, Dmello CC, Jogalekar MP, Gangadaran P, Ahn B. Tumor microenvironment signaling and therapeutics in cancer progression. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2023; 43:525-561. [PMID: 37005490 PMCID: PMC10174093 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor development and metastasis are facilitated by the complex interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment, which comprises stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, among other factors. Stromal cells can adopt new phenotypes to promote tumor cell invasion. A deep understanding of the signaling pathways involved in cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM interactions is needed to design effective intervention strategies that might interrupt these interactions. In this review, we describe the tumor microenvironment (TME) components and associated therapeutics. We discuss the clinical advances in the prevalent and newly discovered signaling pathways in the TME, the immune checkpoints and immunosuppressive chemokines, and currently used inhibitors targeting these pathways. These include both intrinsic and non-autonomous tumor cell signaling pathways in the TME: protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, Notch, and transforming growth factor (TGF-β) signaling, Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress response, lactate signaling, Metabolic reprogramming, cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and Siglec signaling pathways. We also discuss the recent advances in Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1), Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated Protein 4 (CTLA4), T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) and Lymphocyte Activating Gene 3 (LAG3) immune checkpoint inhibitors along with the C-C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)- C-C class chemokines 22 (CCL22)/ and 17 (CCL17), C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2)- chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5)- chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) chemokine signaling axis in the TME. In addition, this review provides a holistic understanding of the TME as we discuss the three-dimensional and microfluidic models of the TME, which are believed to recapitulate the original characteristics of the patient tumor and hence may be used as a platform to study new mechanisms and screen for various anti-cancer therapies. We further discuss the systemic influences of gut microbiota in TME reprogramming and treatment response. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the diverse and most critical signaling pathways in the TME, highlighting the associated newest and critical preclinical and clinical studies along with their underlying biology. We highlight the importance of the most recent technologies of microfluidics and lab-on-chip models for TME research and also present an overview of extrinsic factors, such as the inhabitant human microbiome, which have the potential to modulate TME biology and drug responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshika Goenka
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of NeurologyThe Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer CenterNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicago, 60611ILUSA
| | - Fatima Khan
- Department of Neurological SurgeryFeinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicago, 60611ILUSA
| | - Bhupender Verma
- Department of OphthalmologySchepens Eye Research InstituteMassachusetts Eye and Ear InfirmaryHarvard Medical SchoolBoston, 02114MAUSA
| | - Priyanka Sinha
- Department of NeurologyMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestown, 02129MAUSA
| | - Crismita C. Dmello
- Department of Neurological SurgeryFeinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicago, 60611ILUSA
| | - Manasi P. Jogalekar
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California San FranciscoSan Francisco, 94143CAUSA
| | - Prakash Gangadaran
- BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future TalentsDepartment of Biomedical Science, School of MedicineKyungpook National UniversityDaegu, 41944South Korea
- Department of Nuclear MedicineSchool of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University HospitalDaegu, 41944South Korea
| | - Byeong‐Cheol Ahn
- BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future TalentsDepartment of Biomedical Science, School of MedicineKyungpook National UniversityDaegu, 41944South Korea
- Department of Nuclear MedicineSchool of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University HospitalDaegu, 41944South Korea
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Zhang C, Wei S, Dai S, Li X, Wang H, Zhang H, Sun G, Shan B, Zhao L. The NR_109/FUBP1/c-Myc axis regulates TAM polarization and remodels the tumor microenvironment to promote cancer development. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-006230. [PMID: 37217247 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and exert an important role in tumor progression. Due to the heterogeneity and plasticity of TAMs, modulating the polarization states of TAMs is considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for tumors. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes, yet the underlying mechanism on how lncRNAs manipulate the polarization states of TAMs is still unclear and remains to be further investigated. METHODS Microarray analyses were employed to characterize the lncRNA profile involved in THP-1-induced M0, M1 and M2-like macrophage. Among those differentially expressed lncRNAs, NR_109 was further studied, for its function in M2-like macrophage polarization and the effects of the condition medium or macrophages mediated by NR_109 on tumor proliferation, metastasis and TME remodeling both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we revealed how NR_109 interacted with far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FUBP1) to regulate the protein stability through hindering ubiquitination modification by competitively binding with JVT-1. Finally, we examined sections of tumor patients to probe the correlation among the expression of NR_109 and related proteins, showing the clinical significance of NR_109. RESULTS We found that lncRNA NR_109 was highly expressed in M2-like macrophages. Knockdown NR_109 impeded IL-4 induced M2-like macrophage polarization and significantly reduced the activity of M2-like macrophages to support the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NR_109 competed with JVT-1 to bind FUBP1 at its C-terminus domain, impeded the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of FUBP1, activated c-Myc transcription and thus promoted M2-like macrophages polarization. Meanwhile, as a transcription factor, c-Myc could bind to the promoter of NR_109 and enhance the transcription of NR_109. Clinically, high NR_109 expression was found in CD163+ TAMs from tumor tissues and was positively correlated with poor clinical stages of patients with gastric cancer and breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS Our work revealed for the first time that NR_109 exerted a crucial role in regulating the phenotype-remodeling and function of M2-like macrophages via a NR_109/FUBP1/c-Myc positive feedback loop. Thus, NR_109 has great translational potentials in the diagnosis, prognosis and immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Zhang
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Gene Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapy; Clinical Oncology Research Center, Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Sisi Wei
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Gene Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapy; Clinical Oncology Research Center, Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Suli Dai
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Gene Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapy; Clinical Oncology Research Center, Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaoya Li
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Gene Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapy; Clinical Oncology Research Center, Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huixia Wang
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Gene Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapy; Clinical Oncology Research Center, Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hongtao Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Guogui Sun
- Department of Hebei Key Laboratory of Medical-industrial Integration Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Baoen Shan
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Gene Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapy; Clinical Oncology Research Center, Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lianmei Zhao
- Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Gene Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapy; Clinical Oncology Research Center, Hebei Province, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Cilenti F, Barbiera G, Caronni N, Iodice D, Montaldo E, Barresi S, Lusito E, Cuzzola V, Vittoria FM, Mezzanzanica L, Miotto P, Di Lucia P, Lazarevic D, Cirillo DM, Iannacone M, Genua M, Ostuni R. A PGE 2-MEF2A axis enables context-dependent control of inflammatory gene expression. Immunity 2021; 54:1665-1682.e14. [PMID: 34129840 PMCID: PMC8362890 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tight control of inflammatory gene expression by antagonistic environmental cues is key to ensure immune protection while preventing tissue damage. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) modulates macrophage activation during homeostasis and disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely characterized. Here we dissected the genomic properties of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced genes whose expression is antagonized by PGE2. The latter molecule targeted a set of inflammatory gene enhancers that, already in unstimulated macrophages, displayed poorly permissive chromatin organization and were marked by the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A). Deletion of MEF2A phenocopied PGE2 treatment and abolished type I interferon (IFN I) induction upon exposure to innate immune stimuli. Mechanistically, PGE2 interfered with LPS-mediated activation of ERK5, a known transcriptional partner of MEF2. This study highlights principles of plasticity and adaptation in cells exposed to a complex environment and uncovers a transcriptional circuit for IFN I induction with relevance for infectious diseases or cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Cilenti
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Barbiera
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Caronni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Iodice
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Montaldo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Barresi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Lusito
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cuzzola
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Maria Vittoria
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Mezzanzanica
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Miotto
- Emerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Di Lucia
- Dynamics of Immune Responses Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Dejan Lazarevic
- Center for Omics Sciences (COSR), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Maria Cirillo
- Emerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Iannacone
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Dynamics of Immune Responses Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Experimental Imaging Centre, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Genua
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Renato Ostuni
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, Italy; Genomics of the Innate Immune System Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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