Acidity promotes tumour progression by altering macrophage phenotype in prostate cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tumours rapidly ferment glucose to lactic acid even in the presence of oxygen, and coupling high glycolysis with poor perfusion leads to extracellular acidification. We hypothesise that acidity, independent from lactate, can augment the pro-tumour phenotype of macrophages.

Methods

We analysed publicly available data of human prostate cancer for linear correlation between macrophage markers and glycolysis genes. We used zwitterionic buffers to adjust the pH in series of in vitro experiments. We then utilised subcutaneous and transgenic tumour models developed in C57BL/6 mice as well as computer simulations to correlate tumour progression with macrophage infiltration and to delineate role of acidity.

Results

Activating macrophages at pH 6.8 in vitro enhanced

SUBMITTER: El-Kenawi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6889319 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature