TGFβ⁺ small extracellular vesicles from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells reprogram macrophages towards a pro-angiogenic phenotype.

ABSTRACT: Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a major component of tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (TEX) in cancer patients. Mechanisms utilized by TGFβ⁺ TEX to promote tumor growth and pro-tumor activities in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are largely unknown. TEX produced by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines carried TGFβ and angiogenesis-promoting proteins. TGFβ⁺ TEX stimulated macrophage chemotaxis without a notable M1/M2 phenotype shift and reprogrammed primary human macrophages to a pro-angiogenic phenotype characterized by the upregulation of pro-angiogenic factors and functions. In a murine basement membrane extract plug model, TGFβ⁺ TEX promoted macrophage infiltration and vascularization (p < 0.001), which was blocked b

SUBMITTER: Ludwig N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9764108 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature