TIM-3 Expression and M2 Polarization of Macrophages in the TGFβ-Activated Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer
M2 macrophage; TGFβ; TIM-3; colorectal cancer; immunotherapy.- Cancers (Basel)
- 0
- 2023 Oct 11;15(20):4943.
- Human
- 流式
- 消化系统
- 巨噬细胞
- 肠癌
- CD114,MIP-1β
Abstract
TGFβ signaling in the tumor microenvironment (TME) drives immune evasion and is a negative predictor of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in colorectal cancer (CRC). TIM-3, an inhibitory receptor implicated in anti-tumor immune responses and ICI resistance, has emerged as an immunotherapeutic target. This study investigated TIM-3, M2 macrophages and the TGFβ-activated TME, in association with microsatellite instability (MSI) status and consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs). Transcriptomic cohorts of CRC tissues, organoids and xenografts were examined (n = 2240). TIM-3 and a TGFβ-inducible stromal protein, VCAN, were evaluated in CRC specimens using immunohistochemistry (n = 45). TIM-3 expression on monocytes and generated M2 macrophages was examined by flow cytometry. We found that the expression of HAVCR2 (TIM-3) significantly correlated with the transcriptional signatures of TGFβ, TGFβ-dependent stromal activation and M2 macrophage, each of which were co-upregulated in CMS4, CMS1 and MSI CRCs across all datasets. Tumor-infiltrating TIM-3+ immune cells accumulated in TGFβ-responsive cancer stroma. TIM-3 was increased on M2-polarized macrophages, and on monocytes in response to TGFβ treatment. In conclusion, we identified a close association between TIM-3 and M2-like polarization of macrophages in the TGFβ-rich TME. Our findings provide new insights into personalized immunotherapeutic strategies based on the TME for CRCs.Keywords: M2 macrophage; TGFβ; TIM-3; colorectal cancer; immunotherapy.
金课堂之文献解析 文献原文请点击
本网站销售的所有产品及服务均不得用于人类或动物之临床诊断或治疗,仅可用于工业或者科研等非医疗目的。