Crosstalk between hepatic tumor cells and macrophages via Wnt/β-catenin signaling promotes M2-like macrophage polarization and reinforces tumor malignant behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major component of tumor microenvironment (TME) and play pivotal roles in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Wnt signaling is evolutionarily conserved and participates in liver tumorigenesis. Several studies have shown that macrophage-derived Wnt ligands can activate Wnt signaling in tumor cells. However, whether Wnt ligands secreted by tumor cells can trigger Wnt signaling in macrophages is still elusive. In this study, we first verified that canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling was activated during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and in M2-polarized macrophages. Knockdown of β-catenin in M2 macrophages exhibited stronger antitumor characteristics when cocultured with Hepa1-6 HCC cells in a series of experiments. Activation of

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6052107 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature