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Hadadi, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Hadadi, E..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

VSIG4-Expressing Macrophages Contribute To Anti-Parasitic And Anti-Metastatic Responses In The Peritoneal Cavity

Peritoneal tissue-resident macrophages, also referred to as large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs), play an important role as gatekeepers of peritoneal homeostasis by providing a first line of defense against pathogenic threats. About a third of the LPMs express the surface receptor V-set and Immunoglobulin domain containing 4 (VSIG4), but it is unclear to what extent these cells differ from their VSIG4-negative counterparts and perform dedicated functions. Here, we demonstrate that VSIG4+ LPMs, in contrast to VSIG4- LPMs, are in majority derived from embryonal precursors and their occurrence is to a large extent independent from sex and microbiota. Although their transcriptome and surface proteome are indistinguishable from VSIG4- LPMs at steady-state, VSIG4+ LPMs are superior in phagocytosing Gram-positive bacteria and colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells. In-house generated anti-VSIG4 nanobody constructs that are antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)-enabled allowed a selective elimination of the VSIG4+ LPM subset without affecting the overall LPM content of the peritoneal cavity. This strategy uncovered a role for VSIG4+ LPMs in lowering the first peak of parasitemia in a Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection model and in reducing the outgrowth of CRC cells in the peritoneal cavity, a prime metastatic site in CRC patients. Altogether, our data uncover a protective role for VSIG4+ LPMs in infectious and oncological diseases in the peritoneal cavity.

immunology↗

Epigenomic programming of peripheral monocytes determines their transcriptional response to the tumor microenvironment

Classical monocytes are recruited to tumors and undergo transcriptional reprogramming resulting in tumor-promoting functions. Epigenomic features, such as post-translational modification of histones and chromatin accessibility, are key determinants of transcription factor binding and thereby play an important role in determining transcriptional responses to the tissue environment. It is unknown to what extent the epigenetic landscape of peripheral monocytes is rewired by cancer and how this could shape their transcriptional response upon recruitment to the tumor microenvironment. Here we used a combination of genome-wide assays for mRNA expression, chromatin accessibility and multiple histone modifications (H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27ac) in a mouse model to investigate changes in the epigenomic landscape of peripheral monocytes. We then linked these epigenetic alterations to gene expression changes in monocytes occurring in the periphery or during tumor infiltration. We found that the distal tumor caused extensive remodeling of both H3K4me3+ promoters and H3K4me1+ enhancers in peripheral monocytes. Specifically, this involved the repression of interferon-responsive promoters and enhancers as well as the establishment of enhancers harboring binding motifs for transcription factors downstream of inflammatory and cytokine signaling pathways. The enhancers altered in the periphery could be linked to sustained gene expression changes which were less likely to be reversed in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, genes activated upon tumor infiltration showed prior epigenetic priming in peripheral monocytes. Overall, these results indicate that the epigenomic landscape of peripheral monocytes is altered in response to a distal tumor, and this could shape the transcriptional response of monocytes when they encounter microenvironmental signals upon infiltrating the tumor.

immunology↗

Distinct cDC subsets co-operate in CD40 agonist response while suppressive microenvironments and lack of antigens subvert efficacy

Agonistic CD40 therapy has shown to inhibit cancer progression, but only in a fraction of patients. Hence, understanding the cancer cell-intrinsic and microenvironmental determinants of CD40 therapy response is crucial to identify responsive patient populations and design efficient combination treatments. Here, we showed that the therapeutic efficacy of CD40 in responder melanoma tumours, relied on pre-existing cDC1-primed CD8+ T cells, however cDC1s were dispensable after CD40 administration. Surprisingly, in response to CD40 the abundance of activated cDCs, potentially derived from cDC2s increased, thereby further activating antitumour CD8+ T cells. Hence, distinct cDC subsets are required to induce CD40 responses. By contrast, lung tumours, characterised by a high abundance of macrophages, were resistant to CD40 therapy. Combining CD40 therapy with macrophage depletion led to tumour growth inhibition only in the presence of strong neoantigens. Accordingly, treatment with immunogenic cell-death inducing chemotherapy sensitised non-immunogenic tumours to CD40 therapy.

cancer biology↗

Chronic circadian disruption modulates breast cancer cell stemness and their immune microenvironment to drive metastasis in mice

Breast cancer is the most common type and one of the major causes of cancer death in woman worldwide. Epidemiological studies have established a link between night shift work and increased cancer risk, suggesting that circadian disruption may interfere with carcinogenesis. We aim to shed light on the effect of chronic jetlag on mammary tumour development. Therefore, we used a mouse model of spontaneous mammary tumorigenesis that we exposed to chronic circadian disruption. We observed that circadian disruption significantly increases cancer cell dissemination and metastasis. It also enhances the stemness and tumour-initiating potential of tumour cells and creates an immunosuppressive shift in the tumour microenvironment. We finally showed that all these defects can be corrected by the use of a CXCR2 inhibitor. Altogether, our data provide a conceptual framework to better understand and manage the effects of chronic circadian disruption on breast cancer progression.

cancer biology↗