Project description:Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have emerged as prominent cells within the tumor microenvironment playing critical roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, tumor cell proliferation and invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Cathepsin proteases, produced by tumor cells and TAMs, have been demonstrated to mediate these processes, but it still remains unclear how these typically lysosomal enzymes are capable of executing their functions in the extracellular space. Here we identify a novel interaction between STAT6 and STAT3 that potently upregulates cathepsin secretion in macrophages in response to TH2 cytokine stimulation. Systematic gene expression analyses reveal that the TH2 cytokine IL-4 synergizes with IL-6 or IL-10 to activate the IRE1α/ XBP1 axis of the unfolded protein response. Pharmacological inhibition of the IRE1α axis blunts cathepsin secretion in macrophages and blocks macrophage-mediated tumor cell invasion. Finally, we show that genetic ablation of either STAT6 or STAT3 signaling impairs tumor development and invasion. Thus, these findings demonstrate that TH2 cytokine-mediated STAT6 and STAT3 activation in macrophages promotes a professional secretory phenotype capable of enhancing tumor cell invasion in a cathepsin-dependent manner.
Project description:Complex interplay between T helper (Th) cells and macrophages contributes to the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. While Th1 cytokines promote inflammatory activation of lesion macrophages, Th2 cytokines attenuate macrophage-mediated inflammation and enhance their repair functions. In spite of its biologic importance, the biochemical and molecular basis of how Th2 cytokines promote maturation of anti-inflammatory macrophages is not understood. We show here that in response to interleukin-4 (IL-4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and PPARg-coactivator-1b (PGC-1b) induce macrophage programs for fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis. Transgenic expression of PGC-1b primes macrophages for alternative activation and strongly inhibits proinflammatory cytokine production, whereas inhibition of oxidative metabolism or RNAi-mediated knockdown of PGC-1b attenuates this immune response. These data elucidate a molecular pathway that directly links mitochondrial oxidative metabolism to the anti-inflammatory program of macrophage activation, suggesting a potential role for metabolic therapies in treating atherogenic inflammation. Total RNA was prepared from three independent experimental replicates using Trizol reagent (Invitrogen) and validated by northern blot. Microarray experiments were performed with 20-25 ?g of total RNA, which was labelled with fluorescent nucleotides and hybridized to murine cDNA slides. Hybridized slides were interrogated via an Agilent scanner. Cells were activated with either interleukin-4, interferon-gamma/lipo-polysaccharide, or vehicle in low-glucose media.
Project description:The immune system can both promote and suppress cancer. Chronic inflammation and proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 are considered tumor-promoting. In contrast, the exact nature of protective antitumor immunity remains obscure. In this study, we have quantified locally secreted cytokines during primary immune responses against myeloma and B-cell lymphoma in mice. Strikingly, successful cancer immunosurveillance mediated by tumor-specific CD4+ T cells was consistently associated with elevated local levels of both proinflammatory (IL-1aplha, IL-1beta, and IL-6) and T helper 1 (Th1)-associated cytokines (interferon-alpha, IL-2, IL-12). Cancer eradication was achieved by a collaboration between tumor-specific Th1 cells and tumor-infiltrating, antigen-presenting macrophages. Th1 cells induced secretion of IL-1? and IL-6 by macrophages. Th1-derived interferon-? was shown to render macrophages directly cytotoxic to cancer cells, and to induce macrophages to secrete the angiostatic chemokines CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP-10. Thus, inflammation, when driven by tumor-specific Th1 cells, may prevent rather than promote cancer. Tumoricidal macrophages were isolated from Idiotype-specific TCR-transgenic SCID mice injected with MOPC315-containing Matrigel. Control macrophages were obtained from TCR-transgenic SCID mice injected with Matrigel containing antigen-loss MOPC315.
Project description:TH2 and innate lymphoid cells 2 (ILC2) can stimulate tumor growth by secreting pro-tumorigenic cytokines such as IL4, IL5 and IL13. However, the mechanisms by which type 2 immune cells traffic to the tumor microenvironment (TME) are unknown. Here, in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we show that oncogenic KrasG12D (Kras*) increases the expression of IL33 in cancer cells, which upon secretion recruits and activates the TH2 and ILC2. Correspondingly, cancer cell-specific deletion of IL33 reduces TH2 and ILC2 recruitment and promotes tumor regression. Unexpectedly, we discovered that the cellular release of IL33 into the TME is dependent on the intratumoral fungal mycobiome. Genetic deletion of IL33 or anti-fungal treatment decreases TH2 and ILC2 infiltration and increases survival. Consistent with these murine data, high IL33 expression is observed in approximately 20% of human PDAC, and expression is mainly restricted to cancer cells. These data expand our knowledge of the mechanisms driving PDAC tumor progression and identifies therapeutically targetable pathways involving intratumoral mycobiome-driven secretion of IL33.
Project description:The immune system can both promote and suppress cancer. Chronic inflammation and proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 are considered tumor-promoting. In contrast, the exact nature of protective antitumor immunity remains obscure. In this study, we have quantified locally secreted cytokines during primary immune responses against myeloma and B-cell lymphoma in mice. Strikingly, successful cancer immunosurveillance mediated by tumor-specific CD4+ T cells was consistently associated with elevated local levels of both proinflammatory (IL-1aplha, IL-1beta, and IL-6) and T helper 1 (Th1)-associated cytokines (interferon-alpha, IL-2, IL-12). Cancer eradication was achieved by a collaboration between tumor-specific Th1 cells and tumor-infiltrating, antigen-presenting macrophages. Th1 cells induced secretion of IL-1? and IL-6 by macrophages. Th1-derived interferon-? was shown to render macrophages directly cytotoxic to cancer cells, and to induce macrophages to secrete the angiostatic chemokines CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP-10. Thus, inflammation, when driven by tumor-specific Th1 cells, may prevent rather than promote cancer.
Project description:This model describes the concept of Cancer Stem Cells(CSC) differentiation and tumor-immune interaction into a generic model that has been validated with known experimental data. Created by COPASI 4.24(Build197)
Abstract:
The tumor microenvironment comprising of the immune cells and cytokines acts as the 'soil' that nourishes a developing tumor. Lack of a comprehensive study of the interactions of this tumor microenvironment with the heterogeneous sub-population of tumor cells that arise from the differentiation of Cancer Stem Cells (CSC), i.e. the 'seed', has limited our understanding of the development of drug resistance and treatment failures in Cancer. Based on this seed and soil hypothesis, for the very first time, we have captured the concept of CSC differentiation and tumor-immune interaction into a generic model that has been validated with known experimental data. Using this model we report that as the CSC differentiation shifts from symmetric to asymmetric pattern, resistant cancer cells start accumulating in the tumor that makes it refractory to therapeutic interventions. Model analyses unveiled the presence of feedback loops that establish the dual role of M2 macrophages in regulating tumor proliferation. The study further revealed oscillations in the tumor sub-populations in the presence of TH1 derived IFN-γ that eliminates CSC; and the role of IL10 feedback in the regulation of TH1/TH2 ratio. These analyses expose important observations that are indicative of Cancer prognosis. Further, the model has been used for testing known treatment protocols to explore the reasons of failure of conventional treatment strategies and propose an improvised protocol that shows promising results in suppressing the proliferation of all the cellular sub-populations of the tumor and restoring a healthy TH1/TH2 ratio that assures better Cancer remission.
Project description:Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women. NOTCH signaling is a well conserved pathway which not only plays critical roles in normal development, but also in cancer progression. One of the Notch ligand, JAGGED1 is overexpressed in about 30% of breast cancer patients. However, the role of JAGGED1 in breast tumorigenesis has not been rigorously examined. By utilizing genetic engineered mouse models of mammary specific Jagged1 expression or knockout, we discover that Jagged1 promotes tumorigenesis in multiple spontaneous mammary tumor models. Jagged1 expression leads to increased infiltration of tumor associated macrophages and decreased presentation of T cells within tumor microenvironment. Depletion of macrophages or T cells by neutralizing antibodies diminishes the tumor-promoting effect caused by Jagged1. Mechanistically, Jagged1 activates Notch signaling in tumor cells, leads to increased expression and secretion of multiple cytokines, including IL-6 and WISP. These cytokines help recruit macrophages into the tumor microenvironment. Macrophages crosstalk with infiltrated T cells and inhibit their cytotoxic killing on tumor cells. In triple negative breast cancer patient samples, high expression level of JAGGED1 correlates with increased macrophage infiltration and decreased T cell infiltration within tumor tissues. JAGGED1 also promotes tumor progression in several other solid cancer types, including melanoma, and colon cancer in a T cell dependent manner. Co-administration of immune checkpoint inhibitor, PD-1 antibody with gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) significantly inhibits tumor growth. These findings identify a unique oncogenic crosstalk between tumor derived JAGGED1, Macrophages, and T cells to promote tumor progression.
Project description:Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women. NOTCH signaling is a well conserved pathway which not only plays critical roles in normal development, but also in cancer progression. One of the Notch ligand, JAGGED1 is overexpressed in about 30% of breast cancer patients. However, the role of JAGGED1 in breast tumorigenesis has not been rigorously examined. By utilizing genetic engineered mouse models of mammary specific Jagged1 expression or knockout, we discover that Jagged1 promotes tumorigenesis in multiple spontaneous mammary tumor models. Jagged1 expression leads to increased infiltration of tumor associated macrophages and decreased presentation of T cells within tumor microenvironment. Depletion of macrophages or T cells by neutralizing antibodies diminishes the tumor-promoting effect caused by Jagged1. Mechanistically, Jagged1 activates Notch signaling in tumor cells, leads to increased expression and secretion of multiple cytokines, including IL-6 and WISP. These cytokines help recruit macrophages into the tumor microenvironment. Macrophages crosstalk with infiltrated T cells and inhibit their cytotoxic killing on tumor cells. In triple negative breast cancer patient samples, high expression level of JAGGED1 correlates with increased macrophage infiltration and decreased T cell infiltration within tumor tissues. JAGGED1 also promotes tumor progression in several other solid cancer types, including melanoma, and colon cancer in a T cell dependent manner. Co-administration of immune checkpoint inhibitor, PD-1 antibody with gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) significantly inhibits tumor growth. These findings identify a unique oncogenic crosstalk between tumor derived JAGGED1, Macrophages, and T cells to promote tumor progression.
Project description:We report the RNAseq of mouse pancreatic cancer cell lines with Kras ON vs Kras OFF. TH2 and innate lymphoid cells 2 (ILC2) can stimulate tumor growth by secreting pro-tumorigenic cytokines such as IL4, IL5 and IL13. However, the mechanisms by which type 2 immune cells traffic to the tumor microenvironment (TME) are unknown. Here, in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we show that oncogenic KrasG12D (Kras*) increases the expression of IL33 in cancer cells, which upon secretion recruits and activates the TH2 and ILC2. Correspondingly, cancer cell-specific deletion of IL33 reduces TH2 and ILC2 recruitment and promotes tumor regression. Unexpectedly, we discovered that the cellular release of IL33 into the TME is dependent on the intratumoral fungal mycobiome. Genetic deletion of IL33 or anti-fungal treatment decreases TH2 and ILC2 infiltration and increases survival. Consistent with these murine data, high IL33 expression is observed in approximately 20% of human PDAC, and expression is mainly restricted to cancer cells. These data expand our knowledge of the mechanisms driving PDAC tumor progression and identifies therapeutically targetable pathways involving intratumoral mycobiome-driven secretion of IL33.