Dexamethasone drives macrophage repolarization linked to increased triple-negative breast cancer aggressiveness.

ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are known for their anti-inflammatory potential, which includes the macrophage polarization into an anti-inflammatory and tissue remodeling state. GCs are routinely co-administered to cancer patients to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. However, it is not well known if GCs can modulate tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to promote tumor progression. Here, we show that dexamethasone (DEX) induces dose-dependent differentiation of THP-1 monocyte-derived anti-tumorigenic (M1) macrophages into pro-tumorigenic (M2-like) macrophages, even in the presence of M1 cues, and that DEX can repolarize fully differentiated M1 macrophages into an M2-like state. These macrophages have a cytokine profile similar to the pro-tumorigenic (M2) macrophages and can stimulate the p

SUBMITTER: Shamekh MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12847883 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature