Extracellular matrix remodeling in the tumor immunity

Wei Du; Xueming Xia; Fan Hu; Jiayun Yu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1340634

Extracellular matrix remodeling in the tumor immunity

Front Immunol. 2024 Jan 25:14:1340634. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1340634. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Wei Du¹, Xueming Xia², Fan Hu³, Jiayun Yu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Targeting Therapy and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² Division of Head & Neck Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a significant constituent of tumors, fulfilling various essential functions such as providing mechanical support, influencing the microenvironment, and serving as a reservoir for signaling molecules. The abundance and degree of cross-linking of ECM components are critical determinants of tissue stiffness. In the process of tumorigenesis, the interaction between ECM and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) frequently leads to ECM stiffness, thereby disrupting normal mechanotransduction and promoting malignant progression. Therefore, acquiring a thorough comprehension of the dysregulation of ECM within the TME would significantly aid in the identification of potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. In this regard, we have compiled a comprehensive summary encompassing the following aspects: (1) the principal components of ECM and their roles in malignant conditions; (2) the intricate interaction between ECM and immune cells within the TME; and (3) the pivotal regulators governing the onco-immune response in ECM.

Keywords: cancer; extracellular matrix; immune cells; stiffness; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Carcinogenesis
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Extracellular Matrix
Humans
Mechanotransduction, Cellular*
Neoplasms*
Tumor Microenvironment / physiology

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82102897).