Abstract B44: Regulation of macrophage activation by vascular niche in glioblastoma

Abstract

Abstract Spatiotemporal regulation of tumor immunity remains largely unexplored. Here we identify a vascular niche that controls alternative macrophage activation in glioblastoma (GBM). We show that tumor-promoting macrophages are spatially proximate to GBM-associated endothelial cells (ECs), permissive for angiocrine-induced macrophage polarization. We identify ECs as a major source for interleukin (IL)-6 expression in GBM microenvironment. Furthermore, we reveal that colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) and angiocrine IL-6 induce robust arginase-1 expression and macrophage alternative activation, mediated through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ-dependent transcriptional activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α. Finally, utilizing a genetic murine GBM model, we show that EC-specific knockout of IL-6 inhibits macrophage alternative activation and improves survival in the GBM-bearing mice. These findings illustrate a vascular niche-dependent mechanism for alternative macrophage activation and cancer progression, and suggest that targeting endothelial IL-6 may offer a selective and efficient therapeutic strategy for GBM, and possibly other solid malignant tumors. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Qirui Wang, Yanqing Anna Gong, Yi Fan. Regulation of macrophage activation by vascular niche in glioblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2017 Oct 1-4; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2018;6(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B44.