β-adrenergic signaling blockade attenuates metastasis through activation of cytotoxic CD4 T cells.

ABSTRACT: β-adrenergic signaling has been suggested to promote tumor growth, and β-blockers are being evaluated for repurposing for cancer treatment. Here, we identify a β-adrenergic signaling axis involved in metastasis formation. We show that the β-blocker propranolol has strong anti-metastatic activity in multiple murine models, with this effect being completely dependent on CD4 + T cells and independent of NK or CD8 + T cells. We also observe that CD4 + T cells are required for the anti-tumor effect of propranolol in a syngeneic subcutaneous model of colon cancer. Mechanistically, propranolol induces a Th1-polarized and cytotoxic CD4 + T cell response, which requires MHC class II expression by cancer cells for full efficacy. We also report propanolol-driven systemic changes in the monocyte compa

SUBMITTER: Fjæstad KY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12623787 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature