Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectives
The tumor microenvironment is a highly complex and dynamic mixture of cell types, including tumor, immune and endothelial cells (ECs), soluble factors (cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors), blood vessels and extracellular matrix. Within this complex network, ECs are not only relevant for contr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1367875/full |
| _version_ | 1827349899973230592 |
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| author | Patrizia Leone Eleonora Malerba Nicola Susca Elvira Favoino Federico Perosa Giuliano Brunori Marcella Prete Vito Racanelli |
| author_facet | Patrizia Leone Eleonora Malerba Nicola Susca Elvira Favoino Federico Perosa Giuliano Brunori Marcella Prete Vito Racanelli |
| author_sort | Patrizia Leone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The tumor microenvironment is a highly complex and dynamic mixture of cell types, including tumor, immune and endothelial cells (ECs), soluble factors (cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors), blood vessels and extracellular matrix. Within this complex network, ECs are not only relevant for controlling blood fluidity and permeability, and orchestrating tumor angiogenesis but also for regulating the antitumor immune response. Lining the luminal side of vessels, ECs check the passage of molecules into the tumor compartment, regulate cellular transmigration, and interact with both circulating pathogens and innate and adaptive immune cells. Thus, they represent a first-line defense system that participates in immune responses. Tumor-associated ECs are involved in T cell priming, activation, and proliferation by acting as semi-professional antigen presenting cells. Thus, targeting ECs may assist in improving antitumor immune cell functions. Moreover, tumor-associated ECs contribute to the development at the tumor site of tertiary lymphoid structures, which have recently been associated with enhanced response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). When compared to normal ECs, tumor-associated ECs are abnormal in terms of phenotype, genetic expression profile, and functions. They are characterized by high proliferative potential and the ability to activate immunosuppressive mechanisms that support tumor progression and metastatic dissemination. A complete phenotypic and functional characterization of tumor-associated ECs could be helpful to clarify their complex role within the tumor microenvironment and to identify EC specific drug targets to improve cancer therapy. The emerging therapeutic strategies based on the combination of anti-angiogenic treatments with immunotherapy strategies, including ICI, CAR T cells and bispecific antibodies aim to impact both ECs and immune cells to block angiogenesis and at the same time to increase recruitment and activation of effector cells within the tumor. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:50:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64c16783f5eb490f84a8b5ecb008b43d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:50:59Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-64c16783f5eb490f84a8b5ecb008b43d2024-02-15T04:53:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242024-02-011510.3389/fimmu.2024.13678751367875Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectivesPatrizia Leone0Eleonora Malerba1Nicola Susca2Elvira Favoino3Federico Perosa4Giuliano Brunori5Marcella Prete6Vito Racanelli7Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area-(DiMePRe-J), Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, ItalyInternal Medicine Unit, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, ItalyRheumatic and Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, ItalyRheumatic and Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, ItalyCentre for Medical Sciences, University of Trento and Nephrology and Dialysis Division, Santa Chiara Hospital, Provincial Health Care Agency (APSS), Trento, ItalyInternal Medicine Unit, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, ItalyCentre for Medical Sciences, University of Trento and Internal Medicine Division, Santa Chiara Hospital, Provincial Health Care Agency (APSS), Trento, ItalyThe tumor microenvironment is a highly complex and dynamic mixture of cell types, including tumor, immune and endothelial cells (ECs), soluble factors (cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors), blood vessels and extracellular matrix. Within this complex network, ECs are not only relevant for controlling blood fluidity and permeability, and orchestrating tumor angiogenesis but also for regulating the antitumor immune response. Lining the luminal side of vessels, ECs check the passage of molecules into the tumor compartment, regulate cellular transmigration, and interact with both circulating pathogens and innate and adaptive immune cells. Thus, they represent a first-line defense system that participates in immune responses. Tumor-associated ECs are involved in T cell priming, activation, and proliferation by acting as semi-professional antigen presenting cells. Thus, targeting ECs may assist in improving antitumor immune cell functions. Moreover, tumor-associated ECs contribute to the development at the tumor site of tertiary lymphoid structures, which have recently been associated with enhanced response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). When compared to normal ECs, tumor-associated ECs are abnormal in terms of phenotype, genetic expression profile, and functions. They are characterized by high proliferative potential and the ability to activate immunosuppressive mechanisms that support tumor progression and metastatic dissemination. A complete phenotypic and functional characterization of tumor-associated ECs could be helpful to clarify their complex role within the tumor microenvironment and to identify EC specific drug targets to improve cancer therapy. The emerging therapeutic strategies based on the combination of anti-angiogenic treatments with immunotherapy strategies, including ICI, CAR T cells and bispecific antibodies aim to impact both ECs and immune cells to block angiogenesis and at the same time to increase recruitment and activation of effector cells within the tumor.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1367875/fullendothelial cellstumormicroenvironmentT cellstumor immune evasion |
| spellingShingle | Patrizia Leone Eleonora Malerba Nicola Susca Elvira Favoino Federico Perosa Giuliano Brunori Marcella Prete Vito Racanelli Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectives Frontiers in Immunology endothelial cells tumor microenvironment T cells tumor immune evasion |
| title | Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectives |
| title_full | Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectives |
| title_short | Endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment: insights and perspectives |
| title_sort | endothelial cells in tumor microenvironment insights and perspectives |
| topic | endothelial cells tumor microenvironment T cells tumor immune evasion |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1367875/full |
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