title: Foxp3 expression in macrophages associated with RENCA tumors in mice.
abstract: The transcription factor Foxp3 represents the most specific functional marker of CD4+ regulatory T cells (TRegs). However, previous reports have described Foxp3 expression in other cell types including some subsets of macrophages, although there are conflicting reports and Foxp3 expression in cells other than Treg is not well characterized. We performed detailed investigations into Foxp3 expression in macrophages in the normal tissue and tumor settings. We detected Foxp3 protein in macrophages infiltrating mouse renal cancer tumors injected subcutaneously or in the kidney. Expression was demonstrated using flow cytometry and Western blot with two individual monoclonal antibodies. Further analyses confirmed Foxp3 expression in macrophages by RT PCR, and studies using ribonucleic acid-sequencing (RNAseq) demonstrated a previously unknown Foxp3 messenger (m)RNA transcript in tumor-associated macrophages. In addition, depletion of Foxp3+ cells using diphtheria toxin in Foxp3DTR mice reduced the frequency of type-2 macrophages (M2) in kidney tumors. Collectively, these results indicate that tumor-associated macrophages could express Foxp3.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Devaud
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Carmen S M
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Liza B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Westwood
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Connie P M
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: House
authors.affiliation: Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapeutics laboratory, Department of Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Denoyer
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Core Facility, Department of Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Immunology, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Phillip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Darcy
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Immunology, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kershaw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger