Increased CaMKK2 Expression Is an Adaptive Response That Maintains the Fitness of Tumor-Infiltrating Natural Killer Cells.

ABSTRACT: Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) is a key regulator of energy homeostasis in several cell types. Expression of this enzyme in tumor cells promotes proliferation and migration, and expression in tumor-associated immune cells facilitates M2 macrophage polarization and the development of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Thus, there has been interest in developing CaMKK2 inhibitors as potential anticancer therapeutics. One impediment to clinical development of these agents is that the roles of CaMKK2 in other cellular compartments within the tumor immune microenvironment remain to be established. We report herein that CaMKK2 is expressed at low basal levels in natural killer (NK) cells but is upregulated in tumor-infiltrating NK cells where it suppresses apoptosis

SUBMITTER: Juras PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9812906 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature