bims-stacyt 2021-08-15 papers

Theranostics. 2021 ;11(17): 8322-8336

Metabolic reprogramming of cancer-associated fibroblasts and its effect on cancer cell reprogramming.

Cancer cells are well-known for adapting their metabolism to maintain high proliferation rates and survive in unfavorable environments with low oxygen and nutritional deficiency. Metabolic reprogramming most commonly arises from the tumor microenvironment (TME). The events of metabolic pathways include the Warburg effect, shift in Krebs cycle metabolites, and increase rate of oxidative phosphorylation that provides the energy for the development and invasion of cancer cells. The TME and shift in tumor metabolism shows a close relationship through bidirectional signaling pathways between the stromal and tumor cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main type of stromal cells in the TME and consist of a heterogeneous and plastic population that play key roles in tumor growth and metastatic capacity. Emerging evidence suggests that CAFs act as major regulators in shaping tumor metabolism especially through the dysregulation of several metabolic pathways, including glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism. The arrangement of these metabolic switches is believed to shape distinct CAF behavior and change tumor cell behavior by the CAFs. The crosstalk between cancer cells and CAFs is associated with cell metabolic reprogramming that contributes to cancer cell growth, progression, and evasion from cancer therapies. But the mechanism and process of this interaction remain unclear. This review aimed to highlight the metabolic couplings between tumor cells and CAFs. We reviewed the recent literature supporting an important role of CAFs in the regulation of cancer cell metabolism, and the relevant pathways, which may serve as targets for therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer-associated fibroblasts; Metabolic reprogramming; Tumor microenvironment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.62378

Neoplasma. 2021 Aug 11. pii: 210308N296. [Epub ahead of print]

Hypoxia facilitates the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells by inducing cancer-associated fibroblast-derived IL6.

Ying Xu, Rong Kuai, Yi-Min Chu, Lu Zhou, Hai-Qin Zhang, Ji Li.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignancy worldwide, and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Accumulating evidences indicate cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), abundant stromal cell population in the tumor microenvironment, play a key role in tumor development. Herein, we have successfully isolated CAFs and paired normal fibroblasts (NFs) from colorectal cancer tissues (n = 10). By using a multiplex cytokine profiling assay, we have identified IL-6 as a major cytokine released by CAFs. Co-culturing of CAFs with CRC cell lines HCT116 or SW480 increases IL-6 release, and the secretion by CAFs can be further enhanced under hypoxia. By using the CCK-8 assay, we have found that HCT116 or SW480 cells treated with culture medium from CAFs, IL-6, or hypoxia showed a significant cell growth compared to control cells (P < 0.01). Mechanistically, we have found hypoxia could enhance the effect of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling on CRC cells, in part, through HIF-1a targeting PKM2. In conclusion, our data clearly proposes the interconnected mechanisms for constitutive activation of STAT3 signal by CAFs-derived IL-6 under hypoxia in colorectal cancer. The pharmacological inhibition of STAT3, PKM2, or HIF-1α can significantly reduce the oncogenic effect of IL-6, providing a potential therapeutic target for CRC patients.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4149/neo_2021_210308N296

Oncoimmunology. 2021 ;10(1): 1950953

Hypoxia increases melanoma-associated fibroblasts immunosuppressive potential and inhibitory effect on T cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Linda Ziani, Stéphanie Buart, Salem Chouaib, Jerome Thiery.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and hypoxia are central players in the complex process of tumor cell-stroma interaction and are involved in the alteration of the anti-tumor immune response by impacting both cancer and immune cell populations. However, even if their independent immunomodulatory properties are now well documented, whether the interaction between these two components of the tumor microenvironment can affect CAFs ability to alter the anti-tumor immune response is still poorly defined. In this study, we provide evidence that hypoxia increases melanoma-associated fibroblasts expression and/or secretion of several immunosuppressive factors (including TGF-β, IL6, IL10, VEGF and PD-L1). Moreover, we demonstrate that hypoxic CAF secretome exerts a more profound effect on T cell-mediated cytotoxicity than its normoxic counterpart. Together, our data suggest that the crosstalk between hypoxia and CAFs is probably an important determinant in the complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

Keywords: CTL; Cancer-associated fibroblasts; hypoxia; immunosuppression

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2162402X.2021.1950953

Oncoimmunology. 2021 ;10(1): 1956143

Inhibition of arginase modulates T-cell response in the tumor microenvironment of lung carcinoma.

Anna Sosnowska, Justyna Chlebowska-Tuz, Pawel Matryba, Zofia Pilch, Alan Greig, Artur Wolny, Tomasz M Grzywa, Zuzanna Rydzynska, Olga Sokolowska, Tomasz P Rygiel, Marcin Grzybowski, Paulina Stanczak, Roman Blaszczyk, Dominika Nowis, Jakub Golab.

Immunotherapy has demonstrated significant activity in a broad range of cancer types, but still the majority of patients receiving it do not maintain durable therapeutic responses. Amino acid metabolism has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of immune response. Here, we investigated in detail the role of arginase 1 (Arg1) in the modulation of antitumor immune response against poorly immunogenic Lewis lung carcinoma. We observed that tumor progression is associated with an incremental increase in the number of Arg1+ myeloid cells that accumulate in the tumor microenvironment and cause systemic depletion of ʟ-arginine. In advanced tumors, the systemic concentrations of ʟ-arginine are decreased to levels that impair the proliferation of antigen-specific T-cells. Systemic or myeloid-specific Arg1 deletion improves antigen-induced proliferation of adoptively transferred T-cells and leads to inhibition of tumor growth. Arginase inhibitor was demonstrated to modestly inhibit tumor growth when used alone, and to potentiate antitumor effects of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies and STING agonist. The effectiveness of the combination immunotherapy was insufficient to induce complete antitumor responses, but was significantly better than treatment with the checkpoint inhibitor alone. Together, these results indicate that arginase inhibition alone is of modest therapeutic benefit in poorly immunogenic tumors; however, in combination with other treatment strategies it may significantly improve survival outcomes.

Keywords: Arginase; arginase inhibitor; immunosuppression; immunotherapy; myeloid cells; t-cells response; tumor microenvironment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2162402X.2021.1956143