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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cristina Viúdez-Pareja, Ewa Kreft, Melissa García-Caballero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1235812/full
_version_ 1797690546581405696
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
work_keys_str_mv AT cristinaviudezpareja immunomodulatorypropertiesofthelymphaticendotheliuminthetumormicroenvironment
AT cristinaviudezpareja immunomodulatorypropertiesofthelymphaticendotheliuminthetumormicroenvironment
AT ewakreft immunomodulatorypropertiesofthelymphaticendotheliuminthetumormicroenvironment
AT ewakreft immunomodulatorypropertiesofthelymphaticendotheliuminthetumormicroenvironment
AT melissagarciacaballero immunomodulatorypropertiesofthelymphaticendotheliuminthetumormicroenvironment
AT melissagarciacaballero immunomodulatorypropertiesofthelymphaticendotheliuminthetumormicroenvironment