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Hung CN, Chen M, DeArmond DT, Chiu CHL, Limboy CA, Tan X, Kusi M, Chou CW, Lin LL, Zhang Z, Wang CM, Chen CL, Mitsuya K, Osmulski PA, Gaczynska ME, Kirma NB, Vadlamudi RK, Gibbons DL, Warner S, Brenner AJ, Mahadevan D, Michalek JE, Huang THM, Taverna JA. AXL-initiated paracrine activation of pSTAT3 enhances mesenchymal and vasculogenic supportive features of tumor-associated macrophages. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113067. [PMID: 37659081 PMCID: PMC10577802 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are integral to the development of complex tumor microenvironments (TMEs) and can execute disparate cellular programs in response to extracellular cues. However, upstream signaling processes underpinning this phenotypic plasticity remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that concordant AXL-STAT3 signaling in TAMs is triggered by lung cancer cells or cancer-associated fibroblasts in the cytokine milieu. This paracrine action drives TAM differentiation toward a tumor-promoting "M2-like" phenotype with upregulation of CD163 and putative mesenchymal markers, contributing to TAM heterogeneity and diverse cellular functions. One of the upregulated markers, CD44, mediated by AXL-IL-11-pSTAT3 signaling cascade, enhances macrophage ability to interact with endothelial cells and facilitate formation of primitive vascular networks. We also found that AXL-STAT3 inhibition can impede the recruitment of TAMs in a xenograft mouse model, thereby suppressing tumor growth. These findings suggest the potential application of AXL-STAT3-related markers to quantitatively assess metastatic potential and inform therapeutic strategies in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Nung Hung
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Meizhen Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daniel T DeArmond
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Cheryl H-L Chiu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Catherine A Limboy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Xi Tan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Meena Kusi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Chou
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Li-Ling Lin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chiou-Miin Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chun-Liang Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Office of Nursing Research & Scholarship, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kohzoh Mitsuya
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Pawel A Osmulski
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Maria E Gaczynska
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nameer B Kirma
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ratna K Vadlamudi
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Don L Gibbons
- Department of Thoracic, Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Brenner
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daruka Mahadevan
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Joel E Michalek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Tim H-M Huang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Josephine A Taverna
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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