Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an intricate complex and dynamic structure composed of various cell types, including tumor, stromal and immune cells. Within this complex network, lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) play a crucial role in regulating immune responses and influencing tumor progressi...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1235812/full |
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author | Cristina Viúdez-Pareja Cristina Viúdez-Pareja Ewa Kreft Ewa Kreft Melissa García-Caballero Melissa García-Caballero |
author_facet | Cristina Viúdez-Pareja Cristina Viúdez-Pareja Ewa Kreft Ewa Kreft Melissa García-Caballero Melissa García-Caballero |
author_sort | Cristina Viúdez-Pareja |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an intricate complex and dynamic structure composed of various cell types, including tumor, stromal and immune cells. Within this complex network, lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) play a crucial role in regulating immune responses and influencing tumor progression and metastatic dissemination to lymph node and distant organs. Interestingly, LECs possess unique immunomodulatory properties that can either promote or inhibit anti-tumor immune responses. In fact, tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis can facilitate tumor cell dissemination and metastasis supporting immunoevasion, but also, different molecular mechanisms involved in LEC-mediated anti-tumor immunity have been already described. In this context, the crosstalk between cancer cells, LECs and immune cells and how this communication can shape the immune landscape in the TME is gaining increased interest in recent years. In this review, we present a comprehensive and updated report about the immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium within the TME, with special focus on primary tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes. Furthermore, we outline emerging research investigating the potential therapeutic strategies targeting the lymphatic endothelium to enhance anti-tumor immune responses. Understanding the intricate mechanisms involved in LEC-mediated immune modulation in the TME opens up new possibilities for the development of innovative approaches to fight cancer. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:00:58Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-1e35cb52ed15461d86b42dd90c44c491 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1664-3224 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:00:58Z |
publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
record_format | Article |
series | Frontiers in Immunology |
spelling | doaj.art-1e35cb52ed15461d86b42dd90c44c4912023-09-07T13:28:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242023-09-011410.3389/fimmu.2023.12358121235812Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironmentCristina Viúdez-Pareja0Cristina Viúdez-Pareja1Ewa Kreft2Ewa Kreft3Melissa García-Caballero4Melissa García-Caballero5Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Andalucía Tech, University of Málaga, Málaga, SpainIBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, SpainDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Andalucía Tech, University of Málaga, Málaga, SpainIBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, SpainDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Andalucía Tech, University of Málaga, Málaga, SpainIBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, SpainThe tumor microenvironment (TME) is an intricate complex and dynamic structure composed of various cell types, including tumor, stromal and immune cells. Within this complex network, lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) play a crucial role in regulating immune responses and influencing tumor progression and metastatic dissemination to lymph node and distant organs. Interestingly, LECs possess unique immunomodulatory properties that can either promote or inhibit anti-tumor immune responses. In fact, tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis can facilitate tumor cell dissemination and metastasis supporting immunoevasion, but also, different molecular mechanisms involved in LEC-mediated anti-tumor immunity have been already described. In this context, the crosstalk between cancer cells, LECs and immune cells and how this communication can shape the immune landscape in the TME is gaining increased interest in recent years. In this review, we present a comprehensive and updated report about the immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium within the TME, with special focus on primary tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes. Furthermore, we outline emerging research investigating the potential therapeutic strategies targeting the lymphatic endothelium to enhance anti-tumor immune responses. Understanding the intricate mechanisms involved in LEC-mediated immune modulation in the TME opens up new possibilities for the development of innovative approaches to fight cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1235812/fulltumor microenvironmentlymphatic vasculaturelymphatic endothelial cellsimmune systemtumor-draining lymph nodepre-metastatic niche |
spellingShingle | Cristina Viúdez-Pareja Cristina Viúdez-Pareja Ewa Kreft Ewa Kreft Melissa García-Caballero Melissa García-Caballero Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment Frontiers in Immunology tumor microenvironment lymphatic vasculature lymphatic endothelial cells immune system tumor-draining lymph node pre-metastatic niche |
title | Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment |
title_full | Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment |
title_fullStr | Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment |
title_full_unstemmed | Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment |
title_short | Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment |
title_sort | immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment |
topic | tumor microenvironment lymphatic vasculature lymphatic endothelial cells immune system tumor-draining lymph node pre-metastatic niche |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1235812/full |
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