Metabolism and macrophages in the tumor microenvironment

Hannah Yang; Chan Kim; Weiping Zou

doi:10.1016/j.coi.2024.102491

Metabolism and macrophages in the tumor microenvironment

Curr Opin Immunol. 2024 Oct 4:91:102491. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2024.102491. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hannah Yang¹, Chan Kim², Weiping Zou³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Medical Oncology, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Medical Oncology, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Graduate Programs in Cancer Biology and Immunology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39368171
DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2024.102491

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute the primary subset of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Exhibiting both phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, TAMs play distinct roles in tumor initiation, progression, and responses to therapy in patients with cancer. In response to various immune and metabolic cues within the TME, TAMs dynamically alter their metabolic profiles to adapt. Changes in glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism in TAMs, as well as their interaction with oncometabolites, not only sustain their energy demands but also influence their impact on tumor immune responses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic reprogramming of TAMs and their orchestration of metabolic processes can offer insights for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies targeting TAMs. Here, we discuss how metabolism reprograms macrophages in the TME and review clinical trials aiming to normalize metabolic alterations in TAMs and alleviate TAM-mediated immune suppression and protumor activity.

Publication types

Review