title: Contact-dependent carcinoma aggregate dispersion by M2a macrophages via ICAM-1 and β2 integrin interactions.
abstract: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can constitute up to 50% of the tumor mass and have strong implications in tumor progression and metastasis. Macrophages are plastic and can polarize to various subtypes that differ in terms of surface receptor expression as well as cytokine and chemokine production and effector function. Conventionally, macrophages are grouped into two major subtypes: the classically activated M1 macrophages and the alternatively activated M2 macrophages. M1 macrophages are pro-inflammatory, promote T helper (Th) 1 responses, and show tumoricidal activity, whereas M2 macrophages contribute to tissue repair and promote Th2 responses. Herein, we present a microfluidic system integrating tumor cell aggregates and subtypes of human monocyte-derived macrophages in a three-dimensional hydrogel scaffold, in close co-culture with an endothelial monolayer to create an in vitro tumor microenvironment. This platform was utilized to study the role of individual subtypes of macrophages (M0, M1, M2a, M2b and M2c) in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) aggregate dispersion, as a representation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). A significant difference was observed when M2a macrophages were in direct contact with or separated from A549 aggregates, suggesting a possible mechanism for proximity-induced, contact-dependent dissemination via ICAM-1 and integrin β2 interactions. Indeed, M2a macrophages tended to infiltrate and release cells from carcinoma cell aggregates. These findings may help in the development of immunotherapies based on enhancing the tumor-suppressive properties of TAMs.
authors.affiliation: BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, 138602, Singapore.|Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, 138602, Singapore.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adriani
authors.affiliation: SIgN (Singapore Immunology Network), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Biopolis, 138648, Singapore.
authors.forename: Truong-Minh
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, 138602, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ting-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: SIgN (Singapore Immunology Network), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Biopolis, 138648, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hwei-Xian Leong
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Penny
authors.affiliation: SIgN (Singapore Immunology Network), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Biopolis, 138648, Singapore.
authors.forename: Siew-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, 138602, Singapore.|Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kamm
authors.affiliation: BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, 138602, Singapore.|Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117597, Singapore.|Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Proteos, 138673, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thiery
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D018821:CD18 Antigens; D020100:Hydrogels; C573420:ICAM1 protein, human; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
keywords: cancer microenvironment; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; macrophage phenotypes; macrophage polarization; microfluidics