title: Lung carcinomas decrease the number of monocytes/macrophages (CD14+ cells) that produce TNF-alpha.
abstract: The role that inflammation plays in cancer is puzzling. In peripheral blood, TNF-alpha-producing monocytes (CD14+ cells) were compared among patients with lung cancer, patients with tuberculosis and healthy donors; also, in pleural effusion TNF-alpha-producing CD14+ cells were compared between tuberculous patients and lung cancer patients. To analyze the level of the cellular alteration in TNF-alpha production, an experimental model was set up. TNF-alpha-producing CD14+ cells in peripheral blood from lung cancer patients were significantly lower than those from healthy donors. In pleural effusion, TNF-alpha-producing CD14+ cells were significantly lower in lung cancer patients than in tuberculous patients. Based on the results obtained from an experimental model, we suggest that this phenomenon was attributed to a reduced expression of TNF-alpha transcript. These findings provide evidence that lung carcinomas reduce TNF-alpha production by macrophages, possibly by inducing in these cells an M2 phenotype, which favor tumor progression.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico, DF. slopezgonzalez@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jose Sullivan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lopez-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Avila-Moreno
authors.forename: Heriberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prado-Garcia
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Cazares
authors.forename: Juan Jose
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mandoki
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meneses-Flores
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha