Secreted factors from M1 macrophages drive prostate cancer stem cell plasticity by upregulating NANOG, SOX2, and CD44 through NFκB-signaling

• Published in: Oncoimmunology 2024-12, Vol.13 (1), p.2393442
• Main Authors: Kainulainen, Kirsi, Niskanen, Einari A., Kinnunen, Johanna, Mäki-Mantila, Kaisa, Hartikainen, Kiia, Paakinaho, Ville, Malinen, Marjo, Ketola, Kirsi, Pasonen-Seppänen, Sanna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cancer cell plasticity; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Plasticity - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Hyaluronan Receptors - genetics; Hyaluronan Receptors - metabolism; Kruppel-Like Factor 4 - metabolism; Macrophages - metabolism; Male; Mice; Nanog Homeobox Protein - genetics; Nanog Homeobox Protein - metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells - metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Original Research; prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Signal Transduction; SOXB1 Transcription Factors - genetics; SOXB1 Transcription Factors - metabolism; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology; tumor-associated macrophages; Tumor-Associated Macrophages - immunology; Tumor-Associated Macrophages - metabolism; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 2162-402X; 2162-4011; 2162-402X
• DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2024.2393442

The inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) is a key driver for tumor-promoting processes. Tumor-associated macrophages are one of the main immune cell types in the TME and their increased density is related to poor prognosis in prostate cancer. Here, we investigated the influence of pro-inflammatory (M1) and immunosuppressive (M2) macrophages on prostate cancer lineage plasticity. Our findings reveal that M1 macrophage secreted factors upregulate genes related to stemness while downregulating genes associated with androgen response in prostate cancer cells. The expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) plasticity markers NANOG, KLF4, SOX2, OCT4, and CD44 was stimulated by the secreted factors from M1 macrophages. Moreover, AR and its target gene PSA were observed to be suppressed in LNCaP cells treated with secreted factors from M1 macrophages. Inhibition of NFκB signaling using the IKK16 inhibitor resulted in downregulation of NANOG, SOX2, and CD44 and CSC plasticity. Our study highlights that the secreted factors from M1 macrophages drive prostate cancer cell plasticity by upregulating the expression of CSC plasticity markers through NFκB signaling pathway.