Artesunate Switches Monocytes to an Inflammatory Phenotype with the Ability to Kill Leukemic Cells.

ABSTRACT: Monocytes are components of the tumor microenvironment related to cancer progression and immune escape. Therapeutic strategies for reprogramming monocytes from a tumor-supporting phenotype towards a tumoricidal phenotype are of great interest. Artesunate (ART) may be an interesting option for cancer treatment; however, the role of ART in regulating the inflammatory tumor microenvironment has not yet been investigated. Our aim is to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of ART in vitro in human primary monocytes. ART treatment induced an increase in inflammatory monocytes (CD14highCD16-) with HLA-DR high expression and MCP-1/IL-1β release. On the other hand, ART treatment reduced CD206 and CD163 expression, and abolished the monocyte population known as non-classical and intermediate. Leu

SUBMITTER: Mancuso RI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7827848 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature