Modulatory effects of adiponectin on the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages.

Abstract

The plasticity of macrophages with selective functional phenotypes partially arises in respective to their microenvironment. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may promote disease progression with tumor specific manner. Here we report that in pediatric malignant soft-tissue tumors, the presence of TAMs and expression of adiponectin (APN) are heterogeneous. Both APN and TAMs had high expression in rhabdomyosarcoma, especially in the malignant subtype, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. To investigate the mode of action of APN on TAM activation, a murine MN/MCA1 sarcoma model was used. The Results revealed that exogenous APN had no effect on MN/MCA1 proliferation but tumor size was markedly reduced in apn(-/-) mice versus WT controls. The accumulation of TAMs in apn(-/-) mice was also reduced which correlated to downregulated serum levels of MCP-1. Likewise, TAMs in apn(-/-) mice exhibited a M1-like phenotype, characterized by increase in MHC II(high) population and M1 phenotypic markers, such as iNOS gene and serum TNF-α accompanied by a decrease in M2 markers, namely YM1 gene and serum IL-10. In addition, APN deficiency increased the number of CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells and NK cells in tumors and reduced tumor metastasis. The altered phenotype of TAMs in apn(-/-) mice was associated with a marked decrease in phospho-p38 and treatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly reduced tumor size and increased MHC II expression on TAMs in WT mice, implying p38 MAPK signaling pathway may contribute to APN-mediated TAM polarization. Collectively, our findings suggest that APN may have a potential role in regulating soft tissue sarcoma growth.

• Authors: Jiao Peng, Julia Y Tsang, Derek H Ho, Ruizhong Zhang, Haitao Xiao, Daxu Li, Jiang Zhu, Fenghua Wang, Zhaoxiang Bian, Vincent C Lui, Aimin Xu, Paul K Tam, Jonathan R Lamb, Huimin Xia, Yan Chen
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 137 Issue 4 Pg. 848-58 (Aug 15 2015) ISSN: 1097-0215 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25694398 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 UICC.

Chemical References

• Adiponectin
• Ccl2 protein, mouse
• Chemokine CCL2
• Interleukin-10
• Metformin
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Topics

• Adiponectin (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Animals
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• Chemokine CCL2 (blood)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Humans
• Interleukin-10 (blood)
• Killer Cells, Natural (pathology)
• Macrophages (metabolism, pathology)
• Metformin (administration & dosage)
• Mice
• Sarcoma (blood, genetics, pathology)
• Signal Transduction
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (biosynthesis)