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Saha P, Ettel P, Weichhart T. Leveraging macrophage metabolism for anticancer therapy: opportunities and pitfalls. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:335-349. [PMID: 38494408 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute an important part of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that regulates tumor progression. Tumor-derived signals, hypoxia, and competition for nutrients influence TAMs to reprogram their cellular metabolism. This altered metabolic profile creates a symbiotic communication between tumor and other immune cells to support tumor growth. In addition, the metabolic profile of TAMs regulates the expression of immune checkpoint molecules. The dynamic plasticity also allows TAMs to reshape their metabolism in response to modern therapeutic strategies. Therefore, over the years, a significant number of approaches have been implicated to reprogram cancer-promoting metabolism in TAMs. In this review, we discuss the current strategies and pitfalls, along with upcoming promising opportunities in leveraging TAM metabolism for developing better therapeutic approaches against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyal Saha
- Institute for Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Ettel
- Institute for Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Weichhart
- Institute for Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Ammarah U, Pereira-Nunes A, Delfini M, Mazzone M. From monocyte-derived macrophages to resident macrophages-how metabolism leads their way in cancer. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38411356 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are innate immune cells that play key roles during both homeostasis and disease. Depending on the microenvironmental cues sensed in different tissues, macrophages are known to acquire specific phenotypes and exhibit unique features that, ultimately, orchestrate tissue homeostasis, defense, and repair. Within the tumor microenvironment, macrophages are referred to as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and constitute a heterogeneous population. Like their tissue resident counterpart, TAMs are plastic and can switch function and phenotype according to the niche-derived stimuli sensed. While changes in TAM phenotype are known to be accompanied by adaptive alterations in their cell metabolism, it is reported that metabolic reprogramming of macrophages can dictate their activation state and function. In line with these observations, recent research efforts have been focused on defining the metabolic traits of TAM subsets in different tumor malignancies and understanding their role in cancer progression and metastasis formation. This knowledge will pave the way to novel therapeutic strategies tailored to cancer subtype-specific metabolic landscapes. This review outlines the metabolic characteristics of distinct TAM subsets and their implications in tumorigenesis across multiple cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ummi Ammarah
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Centre, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Andreia Pereira-Nunes
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marcello Delfini
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
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Qian Y, Yin Y, Zheng X, Liu Z, Wang X. Metabolic regulation of tumor-associated macrophage heterogeneity: insights into the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapeutic opportunities. Biomark Res 2024; 12:1. [PMID: 38185636 PMCID: PMC10773124 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00549-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a heterogeneous population that play diverse functions in tumors. Their identity is determined not only by intrinsic factors, such as origins and transcription factors, but also by external signals from the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as inflammatory signals and metabolic reprogramming. Metabolic reprogramming has rendered TAM to exhibit a spectrum of activities ranging from pro-tumorigenic to anti-tumorigenic, closely associated with tumor progression and clinical prognosis. This review implicates the diversity of TAM phenotypes and functions, how this heterogeneity has been re-evaluated with the advent of single-cell technologies, and the impact of TME metabolic reprogramming on TAMs. We also review current therapies targeting TAM metabolism and offer new insights for TAM-dependent anti-tumor immunotherapy by focusing on the critical role of different metabolic programs in TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Qian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yujia Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaocui Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhaoyuan Liu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Xipeng Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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