Dietary arachidonate in milk replacer triggers dual benefits of PGE2 signaling in LPS-challenged piglet alveolar macrophages

Background: Respiratory infections challenge the swine industry, despite common medicinal practices. The dual signaling nature of PGE2(supporting both inflammation and resolution) makes it a potent regulator of immune cell function. Therefore, the use of dietary long chain n-6 PUFA to enhance PGE2 effects merits investigation.Methods: Day-old pigs(n = 60) were allotted to one of three dietary groups for 21 d(n = 20/diet), and received either a control diet(CON, arachidonate = 0.5% of total fatty acids), an arachidonate(ARA)-enriched diet(LC n-6,ARA = 2.2%), or an eicosapentaenoic(EPA)-enriched diet(LC n-3, EPA = 3.0%). Alveolar macrophages and lung parenchymal tissue were collected for fatty acid analysis. Isolated alveolar macrophages were stimulated with LPS in situ for 24 h, and m RNA was isolated to assess markers associated with inflammation and eicosanoid production.Culture media were collected to assess PGE2 secretion. Oxidative burst in macrophages was measured by: 1)oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification(via Seahorse), 2) cytoplasmic oxidation and 3) nitric oxide production following 4, 18, and 24 h of LPS stimulation.Results: Concentration of ARA(% of fatty acids, w/w) in macrophages from pigs fed LC n-6 was 86% higher than CON and 18% lower in pigs fed LC n-3(P < 0.01). Following LPS stimulation, abundance of COX-2 and TNF-α mRNA(P < 0.0001), and PGE2 secretion(P < 0. 01) were higher in LC n-6 PAM vs. CON. However, ALOX5 abundance was1.6-fold lower than CON. Macrophages from CON and LC n-6 groups were 4-fold higher in ALOX12/15 abundance(P < 0.0001) compared to LC n-3. Oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rates increased over 4 h following LPS stimulation(P < 0.05) regardless of treatment. Similarly, increases in cytoplasmic oxidation(P < 0.001)and nitric oxide production(P < 0.002) were observed after 18 h of LPS stimulation but were unaffected by diet.Conclusions: We infer that enriching diets with arachidonic acid may be an effective means to enhance a stronger innate immunologic response to respiratory challenges in neonatal pigs. However, further work is needed to examine long-term safety, clinical efficacy and economic viability.

An In Vitro Investigation of Pulmonary Alveolar Macrophage Cytotoxicity Introduced by Fibrous and Grainy Mineral Dusts

In order to study the damage mechanism of mineral dusts on the pulmonary alveolar macrophage （AM）, the changes in their death ratio, malandialdthyde （MDA） content and activities of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） were measured, and the technique of cell culture in vitro was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of six mineral dusts （twelve crystal habits） from twelve mineral deposits. The results show that woUastonite and clinoptilolite have no AM cytotoxicity, while other fibrous and grainy mineral dusts damage pulmonary AM in various degrees. The cytotoxicity of fibrous mineral dusts was greater than that of the grainy ones, and the cytotoxicity of dusts was positively correlated with the active OH- content in dusts, but not necessarily so with its SiO2 content. The high pH values produced by dust was unfavorable for the survival of cells and the dusts with low bio-resistance were safe for cells. The content of variable valence elements in dusts might influence their cytotoxicity and the surface charge of dusts was not a stable factor for their toxicity. It is demonstrated that the shape of mineral dusts was one of the factors affecting cytotoxicity, and that the cytotoxicity of mineral dusts depends mainly on their properties.

Expression of Toll-like Receptor 2/4 on Alveolar Macrophage in the Model of Total Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Objective： To explore the expression and meaning of Toll-like receptor 2/4 in alveolar macrophage during the process of total hepatic ischemia in mice. Methods： BALB/c mice were used in a model of total hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. Alveolar Macrophage were collected at the time point of lh, 6h and 12h by the means of bronchoalveolar lavage （BAL）, and its TLR2/4 mRNA and protein were detected with Flow Cytometry and Real-time PCR. The level of TNF in BAL fluid were measured. The concentration of MPO, the ratio of wet/dry and lung histological scores were used to assess the degrees of lung injuries. Results： At the three time points of hepatic ischemia reperfusion, the expression of TLR2/4 protein of and mRNA were up-regulated and the level of TLR2 was on the rise continually. TLR4 at the time of 6 h reached the peak value （P〈0.01）. The level of TNF-2 in BAL fluid reached the highest point at the time of 6 h （P〈0.01）. The ratio of wet/dry rose continually during hepatic ischemia reperfusion. After 1 h, the level of MPO increased rapidly. Then it reached the peak value during the period of 6 h to 12 h. Conclusion： TLR2/4 on the mice of alveolar macrophage were activated in the process of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion and involved in the injury of lung.

Radiation Effects on the Immunological Functions and Membranes of Alveolar Macrophages of Rats

Alveolar macrophages (AM) from BCG activated Wistar rat were irradiated with different doses of Gamma rays in vitro. The effects of radiation on their immunological functions and membrane damage were studied. The non-specific cytotoxicity and specific phagocytosis of AM irradiated with dose of 0, 100, 300 and 500 Gy decreased with the increase in dose. The relative fractions of Lactate Dehydrogenase and Beta-glucuronidase (β-glu) activity in supernatant increased with the increase in dose. There was a correlation between the suppression of immunological functions and the degree of damage of cytoplasmic and lysosomal membranes of AM after irradiation. Na2SeO3, a protective agent of cell membranes, alleviated this effect on the suppressive cytotoxicity indices of irradiated AM.

TNF-α Up-regulates Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression and Activity in Alveolar Macrophages from Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

To study the effects of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α on matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-9 expression and activity in alveolar macrophages （AM） and to investigate the role of NF-κB in the induction, AM were collected from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） of healthy subjects and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. MMP-9 expression and activity were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, Western blotting and zymography. NF-κB activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay （EMSA）. MMP-9 expression and activity induced by TNF-α in AM from healthy subjects or patients with COPD were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner （P〈0.05）. NF-κB activity induced by TNF-α was significantly increased in AM from patients with COPD, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate （PDTC） and N-acetyl-L-cysteine （NAC） significantly inhibited the activation of NF-κB induced by TNF-α （P〈0.05）. The presents study suggested that the expression and activity of MMP-9 from AM can be induced by TNF-α, and TNF-α/NF-κB signal pathway may play an important role in the induction.

Anti-inflammatory role of microRNA let-7c in LPS treated alveolar macrophages by targeting STAT3

Objective:To explore the expression of microRNA(miRNA) let-7c and its function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and alveolar macrophage cells.Methods:Real time PCR was performed to detect the expression of miRNA let-7c in the lung tissue of COPD patients and COPD model in mice.MiRNA let-7c was overexpresscd in alveolar macrophages isolated from mice and its effect was measured by the production of pro-inflammation cytokines and the protein level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) as well as phosphorylation level of STAT3 after LPS stimulation.Luciferase assay was used to detect the binding of miRNA let-7c and 3'UTR of STAT3.Results:MiRNA let-7c expression was significantly lower in patients with COPD compared with control group,and the similar result was found in COPD mice and LPS stimulated alveolar macrophages.Overexpression of miRNA lct-7c in alveolar macrophages inhibited LPS-induced increasing of tumor necrosis factor alpha,interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β.Luciferase assay showed STAT3 was a targeting of miRNA lct-7c in alveolar macrophages.Conclusions:MiRNA lct-7c low expression in COPD can regulate inflammatory responses by targeting STAT3 in alveolar macrophage,which may provide a new target for COPD treatment strategies.

Effects of Bilirubin on Alveolar Macrophages in Rats with Emphysema and Expression of iNOS and NO in Them

To explore the effects of bilirubin on alveolar macrophages (AM) and expression of iNOS and NO in them in emphysema model, the rats were pretreated with bilirubin before exposed to smoke. AM were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and cultured. Pathological microscopic examination of AM and immunohistochemical analysis of iNOS were performed. Nitric oxide (NO) content in the samples was determined by nitrate reductase technique. The results showed both alveoli and alveolar septum appeared normal in size and shape in normal group. AM showed kidney-shaped nucleus and were rich in Golgi complexes and primary lysosomes in the cytoplasm. The inner membrane of mitochondrion was continuous. Most cristae of the mitochondria were intact. In model group, the alveoli were expanded, ruptured and bullaes were formed. Both the population and sizes of AM increased significantly. Secondary lysosomes were rich in the cytoplasm. Deformation and pyknosis of the nucleus, swelling of the mitochondrions and rupture of the inner mitochondrial membrane could also be seen. At high magnification, most of the mitochondrial cristae were broken, or completely lost at certain points. In bilirubin group, alveoli partly expanded and the population of AM also increased, with morphological changes being slighter than that in model group. Both NO contents and expression of iNOS in model group were higher than those in normal group (P<0.05). In bilirubin group the two indice were lower than those in model group (P<0.05). Our findings suggested that high expression of iNOS and high NO content in AM accelerate the development of emphysema associated with smoking in rats. Bilirubin may exert protective effects on AM and retards the development of emphysema in rats.

Voltage-dependent K^+-channel Responses during Activation and Damage in Alveolar Macrophages Induced by Quartz Particles

The roles of voltage-dependent K^＋ channels during activation and damage in alveolar macrophages （AMs） exposed to different silica particles were examined. Rat AMs were collected by means of bronchoalveolar lavage, and were adjusted to 5× 10^5/mL. After AMs were exposed to different concentrations （0, 25, 50, 100, 200 μg/mL） of quartz particles and 100 μg/mL amorphous silica particles for 24 h, the voltage-depended K^＋ current in AMs was measured by using patch clamp technique. Meanwhile the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and the viability of AMs were detected respectively. Patch clamp studies demonstrated that AMs possessed outward delayed and inward rectifying K^＋ current. Exposure to quartz particles increased the outward delayed K^＋ current but it had no effect on inward rectifier K^＋ current in AMs. Neither of the two K^＋ channels in AMs was affected by amorphous silica particles. Cytotoxicity test showed that both silica particles could damage AM membrane and result in significant leakage of LDH （P〈0.05）. MTT studies, however, showed that only quartz particles reduced viability of AMs （P〈0.05）. It is concluded that quartz parti- cles can activate the outward delayed K^＋ channel in AMs, which may act as an activating signal in AMs to initiate an inflammatory response during damage and necrosis in AMs induced by exposure to quartz particle. K^＋ channels do not contribute to the membrane damage of AMs.

Dietary plant extracts modulate gene expression profiles in alveolar macrophages of pigs experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Background: Our previous study showed that 3 plant extracts enhanced the immune responses and growth efficiency of weaned pigs infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV), which is one of the most economically important disease in swine industry. However, each plant extract differently effected on growth efficiency and immune responses. Therefore, the objective of this study was conducted to characterize the effects and investigate the potential underlying mechanisms of 3 plant extracts on gene expression of alveolar macrophages in weaned pigs experimentally infected with PRRSV.Results: PRRSV infection altered(P < 0.05) the expression of 1,352 genes in pigs fed the control(CON;755 up, 597 down). Compared with the infected CON, feeding capsicum(CAP), garlic botanical(GAR), or turmeric oleoresin(TUR) altered the expression of 46 genes(24 up, 22 down), 134 genes(59 up, 75 down), or 98 genes(55 up, 43 down) in alveolar macrophages of PRRSV-infected pigs, respectively. PRRSV infection up-regulated(P < 0.05) the expression of genes related to cell apoptosis, immune system process, and response to stimulus, but downregulated(P < 0.05) the expression of genes involved in signaling transduction and innate immune response.Compared with the infected CON, feeding TUR or GAR reduced(P < 0.05) the expression of genes associated with antigen processing and presentation, feeding CAP up-regulated(P < 0.05) the expression of genes involved in antigen processing and presentation. Supplementation of CAP, GAR, or TUR also enhanced(P < 0.05) the expression of several genes related to amino acid metabolism, steroid hormone synthesis, or RNA degradation, respectively.Conclusions: The results suggest that 3 plant extracts differently regulated the expression of genes in alveolar macrophages of PRRSV-infected pigs, especially altering genes involved in immunity.

Induction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in alveolar macrophages by TNF-α through NF-κB signal pathway

Objective： To explore the effect of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α on matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） expression and activity in alveolar macrophages （AM） from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） and study its associated signal pathway. Methods： AM were collected from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with COPD. The AM were incubated for 1.5 h with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate（PDTC） at concentrations from 0 μmol/L to 50μmol/L and then stimulated for 24 h by TNF-α at 10 ng/ml. MMP-9 expression and activity were respectively detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, Western blotting and Zymography. NF-κB activity was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay （EMSA）. Results： Both the mRNA and protein levels of MMP-9 induced by TNF-α in AM were significantly elevated in a dose dependent manner （ P 〈 0.05）. The level of MMP-9 activity was also correspondingly significantly elevated in the induction （ P 〈 0.05）, which was possibly related with the over-expression of MMP-9. NF-κB activity was significantly increased when AM were stimulated by 10 ng/mL TNF-α （ P 〈 0.05）. The expression of MMP-9 induced by TNF-α could be significantly inhibited by PDTC （P 〈 0.05 ）. Conclusion： The expression and activity of MMP-9 from AM could be induced by TNF-α, and NF-κB signal pathway played an important role in the induction.

Characteristics of alveolar macrophages in bronchioalveolar lavage fluids from active tuberculosis patients identified by single-cell RNA sequencing

Tuberculosis(TB),is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tuberculosis),and presents with high morbidity and mortality.Alveolar macrophages play an important role in TB pathogenesis although there is heterogeneity and functional plasticity.This study aimed to show the characteristics of alveolar macrophages from bronchioalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)in active TB patients.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)was performed on BALF cells from three patients with active TB and additional scRNA-seq data from three healthy adults were established as controls.Transcriptional profiles were analyzed and compared by differential gene expression and functional enrichment analysis.We applied pseudo-temporal trajectory analysis to investigate correlations and heterogeneity within alveolar macrophage subclusters.Alveolar macrophages from active TB patients at the single-cell resolution are described.We found that TB patients have higher cellular percentages in five macrophage subclusters.Alveolar macrophage subclusters with increased percentages were involved in inflammatory signaling pathways as well as the basic macrophage functions.The TB-increased alveolar macrophage subclusters might be derived from M1-like polarization state,before switching to an M2-like polarization state with the development of M.tuberculosis infection.Cell-cell communications of alveolar macrophages also increased and enhanced in active TB patients.Overall,our study demonstrated the characteristics of alveolar macrophages from BALF in active TB patients by using scRNA-seq.

Monocyte and macrophage function in respiratory viral infections

Pulmonary macrophages,such as tissue-resident alveolar and interstitial macrophages and recruited monocyte-derived macrophages,are the major macrophages present in the lungs during homeostasis and diseased conditions.While tissue-resident macrophages act as sentinels of the alveolar space and play an important role in maintaining homeostasis and immune regulation,recruited macrophages accumulate in the respiratory tract after acute viral infections.Despite sharing similar anatomical niches,these macrophages are distinct in terms of their origins,surface marker expression,and transcriptional profiles,which impart macrophages with distinguished characteristics in physi-ological and pathophysiological conditions.In this review,we summarize the current view on these macrophage populations,their shared functions,and what makes them distinct from each other in the context of homeostasis andrespiratoryviral infections.

EFFECTS OF ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGE CONDITIONED MEDIA FROM INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE PATIENTS ON THE PROCOLLAGEN mRNA EXPRESSION IN HUMAN LUNG FIBROBLASTS

Progressive inflammation and fibrosis are the central processes in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. It is believed that macrophages in areas of chronically inflamed lung play a key role in fibrotic response. Therefore, we investigated the effects of alveolar macrophage (AmΦ) conditioned media from interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients on lung fibroblast proliferation and procollagen mRNA expression. After stimulating with AmΦ conditioned media from ILD patients, the fibroblast proliferation increased 71. 4 % compared with the control, but for media from bronchial carcinoma (BC) patients, it just increased 14. 3%. There is a significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 05). The procollagen a1 (Ⅰ) mRNA in fibroblasts stimulated with AmΦ conditioned media from ILD patients was increased 21. 3 %, and a1 ( Ⅲ) was 37. 2% higher than control (P<0.05). It increased 6. 8% and 12. 8% for media from BC patients respectively, but there was no difference when compared to the control. We considered that AmΦ from ILD patients might be in an activated state and could release some growth factors to stimulate fibroblast proliferation and promote collagen DNA expression.

Global trends in publications regarding macrophages-related diabetic foot ulcers in the last two decades

BACKGROUND Diabetic foot ulcers(DFUs)are one of the most severe and popular complications of diabetes.The persistent non-healing of DFUs is the leading cause of amputation,which causes significant mental and financial stress to patients and their families.Macrophages are critical cells in wound healing and perform essential roles in all phases of wound healing.However,no studies have been carried out to systematically illustrate this area from a scientometric point of view.Although there have been some bibliometric studies on diabetes,reports focusing on the investigation of macrophages in DFUs are lacking.AIM To perform a bibliometric analysis to systematically assess the current state of research on macrophage-related DFUs.METHODS The publications of macrophage-related DFUs from January 1,2004,to December 31,2023,were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on January 9,2024.Four different analytical tools:VOSviewer(v1.6.19),CiteSpace(v6.2.R4),HistCite(v12.03.07),and Excel 2021 were used for the scientometric research.RESULTS A total of 330 articles on macrophage-related DFUs were retrieved.The most published countries,institutions,journals,and authors in this field were China,Shanghai Jiao Tong University of China,Wound Repair and Regeneration,and Aristidis Veves.Through the analysis of keyword co-occurrence networks,historical direct citation networks,thematic maps,and trend topics maps,we synthesized the prevailing research hotspots and emerging trends in this field.CONCLUSION Our bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of macrophage-related DFUs research and insights into promising upcoming research.

Nanomaterial‑Based Repurposing of Macrophage Metabolism and Its Applications

Macrophage immunotherapy represents an emerging therapeutic approach aimed at modulating the immune response to alleviate disease symptoms.Nanomaterials(NMs)have been engineered to monitor macrophage metabolism,enabling the evaluation of disease progression and the replication of intricate physiological signal patterns.They achieve this either directly or by delivering regulatory signals,thereby mapping phenotype to effector functions through metabolic repurposing to customize macrophage fate for therapy.However,a comprehensive summary regarding NM-mediated macrophage visualization and coordinated metabolic rewiring to maintain phenotypic equilibrium is currently lacking.This review aims to address this gap by outlining recent advancements in NM-based metabolic immunotherapy.We initially explore the relationship between metabolism,polarization,and disease,before delving into recent NM innovations that visualize macrophage activity to elucidate disease onset and fine-tune its fate through metabolic remodeling for macrophage-centered immunotherapy.Finally,we discuss the prospects and challenges of NM-mediated metabolic immunotherapy,aiming to accelerate clinical translation.We anticipate that this review will serve as a valuable reference for researchers seeking to leverage novel metabolic intervention-matched immunomodulators in macrophages or other fields of immune engineering.

Knockout of C6orf120 in Rats Alleviates Concanavalin A-induced Autoimmune Hepatitis by Regulating Macrophage Polarization

Objective The effect of the functionally unknown gene C6orf120 on autoimmune hepatitis was investigated on C6orf120 knockout rats(C6orf120^(-/-))and THP-1 cells.Method Six–eight-week-old C6orf120^(-/-)and wild-type(WT)SD rats were injected with Con A(16 mg/kg),and euthanized after 24 h.The sera,livers,and spleens were collected.THP-1 cells and the recombinant protein(rC6ORF120)were used to explore the mechanism in vitro.The frequency of M1 and M2 macrophages was analyzed using flow cytometry.Western blotting and PCR were used to detect macrophage polarization-associated factors.Results C6orf120 knockout attenuated Con A-induced autoimmune hepatitis.Flow cytometry indicated that the proportion of CD68^(+)CD86^(+)M1 macrophages from the liver and spleen in the C6orf120^(-/-)rats decreased.C6orf120 knockout induced downregulation of CD86 protein and the mRNA levels of related inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in the liver.C6orf120 knockout did not affect the polarization of THP-1 cells.However,rC6ORF120 promoted the THP-1 cells toward CD68^(+)CD80^(+)M1 macrophages and inhibited the CD68^(+)CD206^(+)M2 phenotype.Conclusion C6orf120 knockout alleviates Con A-induced autoimmune hepatitis by inhibiting macrophage polarization toward M1 macrophages and reducing the expression of related inflammatory factors in C6orf120^(-/-)rats.

The heterogeneity of tumor-associated macrophages and strategies to target it

Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)are emerging as targets for tumor therapy because of their primary role in promoting tumor progression.Several studies have been conducted to target TAMs by reducing their infiltration,depleting their numbers,and reversing their phenotypes to suppress tumor progression,leading to the development of drugs in preclinical and clinical trials.However,the heterogeneous characteristics of TAMs,including their ontogenetic and functional heterogeneity,limit their targeting.Therefore,in-depth exploration of the heterogeneity of TAMs,combined with immune checkpoint therapy or other therapeutic modalities could improve the efficiency of tumor treatment.This review focuses on the heterogeneous ontogeny and function of TAMs,as well as the current development of tumor therapies targeting TAMs and combination strategies.

Th17/Treg balance and macrophage polarization ratio in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans

Objective:To explore the balance of peripheral blood T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cell(Th17/Treg)ratio and the polarization ratio of M1 and M2 macrophages in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans(ASO).Methods:A rat model of lower extremity ASO was established,and blood samples from patients with lower extremity ASO before and after surgery were obtained.ELISA was used to detect interleukin 6(IL-6),IL-10,and IL-17.Real-time RCR and Western blot analyses were used to detect Foxp3,IL-6,IL-10,and IL-17 expression.Moreover,flow cytometry was applied to detect the Th17/Treg ratio and M1/M2 ratio.Results:Compared with the control group,the iliac artery wall of ASO rats showed significant hyperplasia,and the concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly increased(P<0.01),indicating the successful establishment of ASO.Moreover,the levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in ASO rats were pronouncedly increased(P<0.05),while the IL-10 level was significantly decreased(P<0.05).In addition to increased IL-6 and IL-17 levels,the mRNA and protein levels of Foxp3 and IL-10 in ASO rats were significantly decreased compared with the control group.The Th17/Treg and M1/M2 ratios in the ASO group were markedly increased(P<0.05).These alternations were also observed in ASO patients.After endovascular surgery(such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and arterial stenting),all these changes were significantly improved(P<0.05).Conclusions:The Th17/Treg and M1/M2 ratios were significantly increased in ASO,and surgery can effectively improve the balance of Th17/Treg,and reduce the ratio of M1/M2,and the expression of inflammatory factors.

Inhibition of M2 tumor-associated macrophages polarization by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a possible liver cancer therapy method

The problem of liver cancer is becoming increasingly important due to the epi-demic of metabolic diseases and persistent high alcohol consumption.This deter-mines great attention to the development and improvement of methods for early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.Huang et al presented a study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology,in which they showed that the use of the traditional Chinese medicine Calculus bovis(CB)can suppress tumor growth in mice by inhibiting M2 tumor-associated macrophages(TAM)through modulating the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.The interaction of CB components with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,M2 TAM polarization,and tumor dynamics were studied using network pharmacology,transcriptomics,and molecular docking.It is now generally accepted that the polarization of TAM and the differentiation of the functions of M1 and M2 phagocytes are of great importance for the progression of neoplasms.It is assumed that M2 TAM promote proliferation and migration of tumor cells.Attempts to medicinally influence the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in order to modulate phagocyte polarization now belong to one of the most promising areas of immunotherapy of oncological diseases.Undoubtedly,the work of the Chinese authors deserves attention and further development.

Correlation of tumor-associated macrophage density and proportion of M2 subtypes with the pathological stage of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a prevalent global malignancy with complex prognostic factors.Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)have shown paradoxical associations with CRC survival,particularly concerning the M2 subset.AIM We aimed to establish a simplified protocol for quantifying M2-like TAMs and explore their correlation with clinicopathological factors.METHODS A cross-sectional study included histopathological assessment of paraffinembedded tissue blocks obtained from 43 CRC patients.Using CD68 and CD163 immunohistochemistry,we quantified TAMs in tumor stroma and front,focusing on M2 proportion.Demographic,histopathological,and clinical parameters were collected.RESULTS TAM density was significantly higher at the tumor front,with the M2 proportion three times greater in both zones.The tumor front had a higher M2 proportion,which correlated significantly with advanced tumor stage(P=0.04),pathological nodal involvement(P=0.04),and lymphovascular invasion(LVI,P=0.01).However,no significant association was found between the M2 proportion in the tumor stroma and clinicopathological factors.CONCLUSION Our study introduces a simplified protocol for quantifying M2-like TAMs in CRC tissue samples.We demonstrated a significant correlation between an increased M2 proportion at the tumor front and advanced tumor stage,nodal involvement,and LVI.This suggests that M2-like TAMs might serve as potential indicators of disease progression in CRC,warranting further investigation and potential clinical application.