title: Modulatory effects of adiponectin on the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages.
abstract: The plasticity of macrophages with selective functional phenotypes partially arises in respective to their microenvironment. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may promote disease progression with tumor specific manner. Here we report that in pediatric malignant soft-tissue tumors, the presence of TAMs and expression of adiponectin (APN) are heterogeneous. Both APN and TAMs had high expression in rhabdomyosarcoma, especially in the malignant subtype, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. To investigate the mode of action of APN on TAM activation, a murine MN/MCA1 sarcoma model was used. The Results revealed that exogenous APN had no effect on MN/MCA1 proliferation but tumor size was markedly reduced in apn(-/-) mice versus WT controls. The accumulation of TAMs in apn(-/-) mice was also reduced which correlated to downregulated serum levels of MCP-1. Likewise, TAMs in apn(-/-) mice exhibited a M1-like phenotype, characterized by increase in MHC II(high) population and M1 phenotypic markers, such as iNOS gene and serum TNF-α accompanied by a decrease in M2 markers, namely YM1 gene and serum IL-10. In addition, APN deficiency increased the number of CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells and NK cells in tumors and reduced tumor metastasis. The altered phenotype of TAMs in apn(-/-) mice was associated with a marked decrease in phospho-p38 and treatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly reduced tumor size and increased MHC II expression on TAMs in WT mice, implying p38 MAPK signaling pathway may contribute to APN-mediated TAM polarization. Collectively, our findings suggest that APN may have a potential role in regulating soft tissue sarcoma growth.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.|Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Julia Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Department of Chemistry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Derek H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.|Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ruizhong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Daxu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fenghua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Vincent C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Huimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.|Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; C491768:Ccl2 protein, mouse; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D008687:Metformin; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: M1/M2 polarization; adiponectin; p38 MAPK; tumor-associated macrophages