Macrophages will regain the ability to attack tumors
British scientists have found a way to return the lost anti–cancer activity to macrophages - immune cells, one of the functions of which is to suppress cancerous tumors, EurekAlert reports!Normally, macrophages can destroy cancer cells by producing inflammatory proteins that are toxic to the tumor.
With the development of a malignant neoplasm, macrophages penetrating into the tumor lose the ability to produce these proteins and, moreover, synthesize other proteins that stimulate tumor growth.
British researchers have found that the protein IKK-beta (kappa B kinase beta inhibitor, IKK-β) is responsible for such a change in the functions of macrophages. Normally, this protein stimulates protective inflammatory reactions, but inside the tumor it blocks the activity of anti-cancer macrophage genes.
When scientists suppressed the activity of ICK-beta in macrophages inside malignant neoplasms in mice, these immune cells attacked the tumor. They also began the production of chemicals that attract specific antitumor immune cells to destroy the neoplasm.
Currently, researchers have begun to study the possibility of such "reprogramming" of macrophages in humans.