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Macrophage-mediated RON signaling supports breast cancer growth and progression through modulation of IL-35
Author(s) -
Sasha J. Ruiz-Torres,
Jennifer Bourn,
Nancy M. Benight,
Brian G. Hunt,
Carissa Lester,
Susan E. Waltz
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
oncogene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.395
H-Index - 342
eISSN - 1476-5594
pISSN - 0950-9232
DOI - 10.1038/s41388-021-02091-y
Subject(s) - tumor microenvironment , biology , tumor progression , cancer research , macrophage , mammary tumor , metastasis , tumor associated macrophage , signal transduction , cancer , macrophage colony stimulating factor , cytokine , immunology , breast cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , tumor cells , in vitro , biochemistry , genetics
Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) play a major role in regulating mammary tumor growth and in directing the responses of tumor infiltrating leukocytes in the microenvironment. However, macrophage-specific mechanisms regulating the interactions of macrophages with tumor cells and other leukocytes that support tumor progression have not been extensively studied. In this study, we show that the activation of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathway specifically in macrophages supports breast cancer growth and metastasis. Using clinically relevant murine models of breast cancer, we demonstrate that loss of macrophage RON expression results in decreases in mammary tumor cell proliferation, survival, cancer stem cell self-renewal, and metastasis. Macrophage RON signaling modulates these phenotypes via direct effects on the tumor proper and indirectly by regulating leukocyte recruitment including macrophages, T-cells, and B-cells in the mammary tumor microenvironment. We further show that macrophage RON expression regulates the macrophage secretome including IL-35 and other immunosuppressive factors. Overall, our studies implicate activation of RON signaling in macrophages as a key player in supporting a thriving mammary pro-tumor microenvironment through novel mechanisms including the augmentation of tumor cell properties through IL-35.

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