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Chen W, Chen M, Hong L, Xiahenazi A, Huang M, Tang N, Yang X, She F, Chen Y. M2-like tumor-associated macrophage-secreted CCL2 facilitates gallbladder cancer stemness and metastasis. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:83. [PMID: 39138521 PMCID: PMC11320879 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00550-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The predominant immune cells in solid tumors are M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (M2-like TAMs), which significantly impact the promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumors, enhancing stemness and facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the contribution of M2-like TAMs to tumor progression in gallbladder cancer (GBC) is partially known. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of M2-like TAMs and cancer stem cell (CSC) markers in 24 pairs of GBC and adjacent noncancerous tissues from patients with GBC. Subsequently, GBC cells and M2-like TAMs were co-cultured to examine the expression of CSC markers, EMT markers, and migratory behavior. Proteomics was performed on the culture supernatant of M2-like TAMs. The mechanisms underlying the induction of EMT, stemness, and metastasis in GBC by M2-like TAMs were elucidated using proteomics and transcriptomics. GBC cells were co-cultured with undifferentiated macrophages (M0) and analyzed. The therapeutic effect of gemcitabine combined with a chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) antagonist on GBC was observed in vivo. RESULTS The expression levels of CD68 and CD163 in M2-like TAMs and CD44 and CD133 in gallbladder cancer stem cells (GBCSCs) were increased and positively correlated in GBC tissues compared with those in neighboring noncancerous tissues. M2-like TAMs secreted a significant amount of chemotactic cytokine ligand 2 (CCL2), which activated the MEK/extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and enhanced SNAIL expression after binding to the receptor CCR2 on GBC cells. Activation of the ERK pathway caused nuclear translocation of ELK1, which subsequently led to increased SNAIL expression. GBCSCs mediated the recruitment and polarization of M0 into M2-like TAMs within the GBC microenvironment via CCL2 secretion. In the murine models, the combination of a CCR2 antagonist and gemcitabine efficiently inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors in GBC. CONCLUSIONS The interaction between M2-like TAMs and GBC cells is mediated by the chemokine CCL2, which activates the MEK/ERK/ELK1/SNAIL pathway in GBC cells, promoting EMT, stemness, and metastasis. A combination of a CCR2 inhibitor and gemcitabine effectively suppressed the growth of subcutaneous tumors. Consequently, our study identified promising therapeutic targets and strategies for treating GBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Center, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350108, Fujian, China
| | - Mingyuan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Center, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Lingju Hong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
| | - Abudukeremu Xiahenazi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Center, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Maotuan Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Center, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Nanhong Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Center, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Xinyue Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Center, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Feifei She
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350108, Fujian, China.
| | - Yanling Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China.
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Center, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
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Nikotina AD, Vladimirova SA, Kokoreva NE, Nevdakha VA, Lazarev VF, Kuznetcova LS, Komarova EY, Suezov RV, Efremov S, Leonova E, Kartsev VG, Aksenov ND, Margulis BA, Guzhova IV. Novel mechanism of drug resistance triggered by tumor-associated macrophages through Heat Shock Factor-1 activation. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:25. [PMID: 38280079 PMCID: PMC10821977 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Macrophages constitute a major part of tumor microenvironment, and most of existing data demonstrate their ruling role in the development of anti-drug resistance of cancer cell. One of the most powerful protection system is based on heat shock proteins whose synthesis is triggered by activated Heat Shock Factor-1 (HSF1); the inhibition of the HSF1 with CL-43 sensitized A549 lung cancer cells to the anti-cancer effect of etoposide. Notably, analyzing A549 tumor xenografts in mice we observed nest-like pattern of co-localization of A549 cells demonstrating enhanced expression of HSF1 with macrophages, and decided to check whether the above arrangement has a functional value for both cell types. It was found that the incubation of A549 or DLD1 colon cancer cells with either human monocytes or THP1 monocyte-like cells activated HSF1 and increased resistance to etoposide. Importantly, the same effect was shown when primary cultures of colon tumors were incubated with THP1 cells or with human monocytes. To prove that HSF1 is implicated in enhanced resistance caused by monocytic cells, we generated an A549 cell subline devoid of HSF1 which did not respond to incubation with THP1 cells. The pharmacological inhibition of HSF1 with CL-43 also abolished the effect of THP1 cells on primary tumor cells, highlighting a new target of tumor-associated macrophages in a cell proteostasis mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina D Nikotina
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Snezhana A Vladimirova
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Nadezhda E Kokoreva
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Valeria A Nevdakha
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Vladimir F Lazarev
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Liubov S Kuznetcova
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Elena Y Komarova
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Roman V Suezov
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Philipps University of Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sergei Efremov
- Saint-Petersburg State University Hospital, 190103, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elizaveta Leonova
- Saint-Petersburg State University Hospital, 190103, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Nikolay D Aksenov
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Boris A Margulis
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Irina V Guzhova
- Laboratory of Cell Protection Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia.
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Qi YQ, Xiong F, Chen YJ. The correlation between tumor-associated macrophages and the prognosis of east Asian hepatocellular carcinoma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 252:154919. [PMID: 37939428 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous related studies have found that the levels of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were correlated with prognoses in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the prognostic value of TAMs for East Asian HCC patients remains inconclusive. METHODS Our objectives were to systematically review the performance and explore the prognostic and clinical value of TAMs in patients with HCC. A total of 23 relevant studies of 4389 patients were included into our meta-analysis. And the work has been reported in line with PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS The results demonstrated that increased expression level of peritumoral infiltrated CD68+ macrophages had a poor prognostic value on overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). However, there was no correlation between disease-free survival (DFS) and the abundance of CD68+ TAMs both in intratumoral regions. Additionally, low density of CD169+, high density of CD206, and high density of CD204+ TAMs had a worse prognostic value on OS while the CD163+ TAMs had no diagnostic value on OS. The densities of CD68+ TAMs exhibited significantly correlation with AFP level and vascular invasion. The levels of CD169+ TAMs showed apparent relation to vascular invasion and TNM stages. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that TAMs may accomplish as significant prognostic biomarkers for East Asian HCC patients. However, further researches should be performed to estimate the clinical value of TAMs in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Qiang Qi
- Department of Biliary-pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Fei Xiong
- Department of Biliary-pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yong-Jun Chen
- Department of Biliary-pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
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