Apoptotic tumor cell-derived microRNA-375 uses CD36 to alter the tumor-associated macrophage phenotype

Nat Commun. 2019 Mar 8;10(1):1135. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08989-2.

Abstract

Tumor-immune cell interactions shape the immune cell phenotype, with microRNAs (miRs) being crucial components of this crosstalk. How they are transferred and how they affect their target landscape, especially in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), is largely unknown. Here we report that breast cancer cells have a high constitutive expression of miR-375, which is released as a non-exosome entity during apoptosis. Deep sequencing of the miRome pointed to enhanced accumulation of miR-375 in TAMs, facilitated by the uptake of tumor-derived miR-375 via CD36. In macrophages, miR-375 directly targets TNS3 and PXN to enhance macrophage migration and infiltration into tumor spheroids and in tumors of a xenograft mouse model. In tumor cells, miR-375 regulates CCL2 expression to increase recruitment of macrophages. Our study provides evidence for miR transfer from tumor cells to TAMs and identifies miR-375 as a crucial regulator of phagocyte infiltration and the subsequent development of a tumor-promoting microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • CD36 Antigens / genetics*
  • CD36 Antigens / immunology
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemokine CCL2 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL2 / immunology
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / immunology
  • Paxillin / genetics
  • Paxillin / immunology
  • Phenotype
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spheroids, Cellular / immunology
  • Spheroids, Cellular / pathology
  • Tensins / genetics
  • Tensins / immunology
  • Tumor Burden
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • CCL2 protein, human
  • CD36 Antigens
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • MIRN375 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • PXN protein, human
  • Paxillin
  • TNS3 protein, human
  • Tensins