Differential Macrophage Programming in the Tumor Microenvironment

Overview

Journal Trends Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2012 Jan 27

PMID 22277903

Citations 465

Authors

Brian Ruffell

Nesrine I Affara

Lisa M Coussens

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Of the multiple unique stromal cell types common to solid tumors, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are significant for fostering tumor progression. The protumor properties of TAMs derive from regulation of angiogenic programming, production of soluble mediators that support proliferation, survival and invasion of malignant cells, and direct and indirect suppression of cytotoxic T cell activity. These varied activities are dependent on the polarization state of TAMs that is regulated in part by local concentrations of cytokines and chemokines, as well as varied interactions of TAMs with normal and degraded components of the extracellular matrix. Targeting molecular pathways regulating TAM polarization holds great promise for anticancer therapy.

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