How One Type of Tumor Converts Innate Immune Cells to its Cause

We examined the cross-talk between these two populations of cells. We found that the tumor cells expressed high levels of a protein called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and that the myeloid cells had receptors to sense the MIF proteins. This makes them switch their biology and promote, rather than block, tumor growth." The investigators believe this information could be used to create novel therapies against soft-tissue sarcoma. A medication designed to stop cancer cells from expressing MIF could be tested in combination with existing therapies, for example, to see if it improves outcomes for patients. Single-cell RNA-seq of a soft-tissue sarcoma model reveals the critical role of tumor-expressed MIF in shaping macrophage heterogeneity The standard of care is unsuccessful to treat recurrent and aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas. Interventions aimed at targeting components of the tumor microenvironment have shown promise for many solid tumors yet have been only marginally tested for sarcoma, partly because knowledge of the sarcoma microenvironment composition is limited. We employ single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize the immune composition of a sarcoma mouse model, showing that macrophages in the sarcoma mass exhibit distinct activation states. Sarcoma cells use the pleiotropic cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) to interact with macrophages expressing the CD74 receptor to switch macrophages' activation state and pro-tumo...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs