IL1β Promotes Immune Suppression in the Tumor Microenvironment Independent of the Inflammasome and Gasdermin D.

IL1β is a central mediator of inflammation. Secretion of IL1β typically requires proteolytic maturation by the inflammasome and formation of membrane pores by gasdermin D (GSDMD). Emerging evidence suggests an important role for IL1β in promoting cancer progression in patients, but the underlying mechanisms are ill-defined.

Metabolic traits ruling the specificity of the immune response in different cancer types.

Cancer immunotherapy aims to augment the response of the patient's own immune system against cancer cells. Despite effective for some patients and some cancer types, the therapeutic efficacy of this treatment is limited by the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is not well-suited for the fitness of anti-tumoral immune cells. However, the TME differs between cancer types and tissues, thus complicating the possibility of the development of therapies that would be effective in a large range of patients.

Podoplanin-Expressing Macrophages Promote Lymphangiogenesis and Lymphoinvasion in Breast Cancer.

Among mammary tumor-infiltrating immune cells, the highest expression of podoplanin (PDPN) is found in a subset of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). We hereby demonstrate that PDPN is involved in the attachment of this TAM subset to lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). Mechanistically, the binding of PDPN to LEC-derived galectin 8 (GAL8) in a glycosylation-dependent manner promotes the activation of pro-migratory integrin β1.

Exploiting poly(I:C) to induce cancer cell apoptosis.

TLR3 belong to the Toll-like receptors family, it is mainly expressed on immune cells where it senses pathogen-associated molecular patterns and initiates innate immune response. TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) was developed to mimic pathogens infection and boost immune system activation to promote anti-cancer therapy. Accordingly, TLR agonists were included in the National Cancer Institute list of immunotherapeutic agents with the highest potential to cure cancer.