The efficacy of radiotherapy, a mainstay of cancer treatment, is strongly influenced by both cellular and non-cellular features of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a heterogeneous population within the TME and their prevalence significantly correlates with patient prognosis in a range of cancers. Macrophages display intrinsic radio-resistance and radiotherapy can influence TAM recruitment and phenotype. However, whether radiotherapy alone can effectively "reprogram" TAMs to display anti-tumor phenotypes appears conflicting. Here, we discuss the effect of radiation on macrophage recruitment and plasticity in cancer, while emphasizing the role of specific TME components which may compromise the tumor response to radiation and influence macrophage function. In particular, this review will focus on soluble factors (cytokines, chemokines and components of the complement system) as well as physical changes to the TME. Since the macrophage response has the potential to influence radiotherapy outcomes this population may represent a drug target for improving treatment. An enhanced understanding of components of the TME impacting radiation-induced TAM recruitment and function may help consider the scope for future therapeutic avenues to target this plastic and pervasive population.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1020606 | DOI Listing |
Tissue Barriers
January 2025
Sepsis Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China.
Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are the result of an exaggerated inflammatory response triggered by a variety of pulmonary and systemic insults. The lung tissues are comprised of a variety of cell types, including alveolar epithelial cells, pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and others. There is mounting evidence that these diverse cell populations within the lung interact to regulate lung inflammation in response to both direct and indirect stimuli.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Healthc Mater
January 2025
College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.
Natural plant-derived polysaccharides exhibit substantial potential for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and favorable safety profiles. However, their practical application faces several challenges, including structural instability in gastric acid, imprecise targeting of inflamed regions, and limited intestinal retention times. To address these limitations, pH-responsive, colon-targeting microspheres (pWGPAC MSs) are developed for delivering phosphorylated wild ginseng polysaccharides (pWGP) to alleviate UC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall
January 2025
Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Shenyang, 110042, China.
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most malignant brain tumor with high prevalence, remains highly resistant to the existing immunotherapies due to the significant immunosuppression within tumor microenvironment (TME), predominantly manipulated by M2-phenotypic tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs). Here in this work, an M2-TAMs targeted nano-reprogrammers, MG5-S-IMDQ, is established by decorating the mannose molecule as the targeting moiety as well as the toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist, imidazoquinoline (IMDQ) on the dendrimeric nanoscaffold. MG5-S-IMDQ demonstrated an excellent capacity of penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as well as selectively targeting M2-TAMs in the GBM microenvironment, leading to a phenotype transformation and function restoration of TAMs shown as heightened phagocytic activity toward tumor cells, enhanced cytotoxic effects, and improved tumor antigen cross-presentation capability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Med
January 2025
Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Cantonal Hospital Winterthur, 8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.
Wear particle reaction is present in every arthroplasty. Sometimes, this reaction may lead to formation of large pseudotumors. As illustrated in this case, the volume of the reaction may be out of proportion to the volume of the wear scar.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancers (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617, USA.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health issue characterized by poor prognosis and complex tumor biology. One of the critical components of the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME) is tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which play a pivotal role in modulating tumor growth, immune evasion, and metastasis. Macrophages are divided into two major subtypes: pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2, both of which may exist in TME with altered function and proportion.
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