Published: 27-10-2020 10:21 | Updated: 27-10-2020 10:26

Selective regulation of mRNA translation regulates the tumor associated macrophages immunesupressive phenotype

Charlotte Rolny’s and Ola Larsson’s research teams at the Department of Oncology-Pathology has published an article in PNAS.

Accumulation of Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs)  correlate to poor prognosis of most solid cancers including those of the breast. The study shows that TAM’s acquisition of  a pro-tumor phenotype during tumor growth is associated with modulation of gene expression via selective changes in mRNA translation. Detailed studies pinpointed the MNK2/eIF4E pathway, which modulates selective mRNA translation, as required for establishment of the anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype. Accordingly, suppression of the MNK2/eIF4E pathway re-educated anti-inflammatory macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype with the ability to activate CD8+ T. Such re-educated cells could potentially have anti-tumor activities.

Publication

MNK2 governs the macrophage antiinflammatory phenotype.
Bartish M, Tong D, Pan Y, Wallerius M, Liu H, Ristau J, et al
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 Oct;():