In vitro functional assays to assess the reciprocal interplay between tumor cells and macrophages.

Karimova, Adelya F; Ketkar, Avanee; Suezov, Roman; Khalitova, Adelya R; Gomzikova, Marina; Mukhamedshina, Yana; Lauth, Matthias; Huber, Magdalena; Simon, Hans-Uwe; Brichkina, Anna (2024). In vitro functional assays to assess the reciprocal interplay between tumor cells and macrophages. FASEB journal, 38(13) Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 10.1096/fj.202400240R

Preview

Text The_FASEB_Journal_-_2024_-_Karimova_-_In_vitro_functional_assays_to_assess_the_reciprocal_interplay_between_tumor_cells_and.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works (CC-BY-NC-ND). Download (1MB) | Preview

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are integral components of the tumor microenvironment. They are involved in various aspects of tumor cell biology, driving pathological processes such as tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, immunosuppression, and resistance to therapy. TAMs exert their tumorigenic effects by secreting growth factors, cytokines/chemokines, metabolites, and other soluble bioactive molecules. These mediators directly promote tumor cell proliferation and modulate interactions with immune and stromal cells, facilitating further tumor growth. As research into therapies targeting TAMs intensifies, there is a growing need for reliable methods to comprehend the impact of TAMs on cancer progression and to validate novel therapeutics directed at TAMs. The traditional "M1-M2" macrophage classification based on transcriptional profiles of TAMs is not only too simplistic to describe their physiological roles, it also does not explain differences observed between mouse and human macrophages. In this context, methods that assess how TAMs influence tumor or immune cells, either through direct contact or the release of soluble factors, offer a more promising approach. We describe here comprehensive protocols for in vitro functional assays to study TAMs, specifically regarding their impact on the growth of lung cancer cells. We have applied these methods to both mouse and human macrophages, achieving similar outcomes in promoting the proliferation of cancer cells. This methodology can serve as a standardized approach for testing novel therapeutic approaches, targeting TAMs with novel immunotherapeutic compounds, or utilizing gene-editing techniques. Taken together, the described methodology may contribute to our understanding of complex macrophage-tumor interactions and support the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

18 since deposited on 24 Jun 2024
18 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item