Macrophages in Tumor Microenvironments and the Progression of Tumors

Macrophages are widely distributed innate immune cells that play indispensable roles in the innate and adaptive immune response to pathogens and in-tissue homeostasis. Macrophages can be activated by a variety of stimuli and polarized to functionally different phenotypes. Two distinct subsets of macrophages have been proposed, including classically activated (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) macrophages. M1 macrophages express a series of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and effector molecules, such as IL-12, IL-23, TNF-α, iNOS and MHCI/II. In contrast, M2 macrophages express a wide array of anti-inflammatory molecules, such as IL-10, TGF-β, and arginase1. In most tumors, the infiltrated macrophages…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 31170851, 2009BA5045, 2010CB529406
• CS
  Chongqing Science and Technology Commission
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Awards: 2009BA5045, 31170851, 2010CB529406