BSCI-08- Philipp Karschnia.mp4
In vivo two-photon characterization of tumor-associated macrophages and microglia (TAM/M) and CX3CR1 during different steps of brain metastasis formation from lung cancer
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Wenlong Zhang1,2, Philipp Karschnia1,2, Iven-Alex von Mücke-Heim1,2, Matthias Mulazzani1, Xiolan Zhou1, Tao Xu1, Jens Blobner1, Nico Teske1, Sigrid Langer1, Niklas Thon1, Hellen Ishikawa-Ankerhold1, Andreas Straube1, Joerg-Christian Tonn1, Louisa von Baumgarten1
1Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. 2The authors contributed equally, Munich, Germany
Background: Brain metastases represent a common complication of lung cancer and dramatically limit prognosis in affected patients. The influence of tumor-associated macrophages and microglia (TAM/M) and their receptor CX3CR1 on different steps of brain metastasis formation from lung cancer is poorly characterized, but might be of therapeutic relevance.
Methods: We established an orthotopic cerebral metastasis model using CX3CR1-proficient (CX3CR1GFP/wt) and -deficient (CX3CR1GFP/GFP) mice with green-fluorescent TAM/M. A cranial window was prepared, and intracarotid injection of red-fluorescent Lewis Lung Carcinoma-cells (tdtLLC) was performed two weeks later. Formation of brain metastases was followed by repetitive two-photon laser scanning microscopy.
Results: After intracarotid injection, intravascular tumor cells extravasated into the cerebral parenchyma and eventually formed micrometastases (≤50 cells) and mature macrometastases (>50 cells). We observed phagocytosis of extravasated tumor cells by TAM/M during early steps of metastatic growth. Notably, these anti-tumor effects of TAM/M diminished during later steps of metastasis formation and were accompanied by TAM/M accumulation and activation.
CX3CR1-deficiency resulted in a lower number of extravasated tumor cells, and only a small number of TAM/M were visualized during early steps of metastasis formation (extravasation, formation of micrometastases) in such mice. In contrast, progression of extravasated tumor cells into micrometastases was more frequently found in CX3CR1-deficient mice. Overall, these mechanisms resulted in a comparable number of mature macrometastases between CX3CR1-deficient and -proficient mice.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that unspecific inhibition of CX3CR1 might not be a suitable therapeutic approach to prevent cerebral dissemination of lung cancer cells. Given the close interaction between TAM/M and tumour cells during metastasis formation, other therapeutic approaches targeting TAM/M function warrant evaluation. Such concepts might be evaluated in vivo using the herein established orthotopic mouse model.
Contact Presenter
Wenlong Zhang1,2, Philipp Karschnia1,2, Iven-Alex von Mücke-Heim1,2, Matthias Mulazzani1, Xiolan Zhou1, Tao Xu1, Jens Blobner1, Nico Teske1, Sigrid Langer1, Niklas Thon1, Hellen Ishikawa-Ankerhold1, Andreas Straube1, Joerg-Christian Tonn1, Louisa von Baumgarten1
1Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. 2The authors contributed equally, Munich, Germany
Background: Brain metastases represent a common complication of lung cancer and dramatically limit prognosis in affected patients. The influence of tumor-associated macrophages and microglia (TAM/M) and their receptor CX3CR1 on different steps of brain metastasis formation from lung cancer is poorly characterized, but might be of therapeutic relevance.
Methods: We established an orthotopic cerebral metastasis model using CX3CR1-proficient (CX3CR1GFP/wt) and -deficient (CX3CR1GFP/GFP) mice with green-fluorescent TAM/M. A cranial window was prepared, and intracarotid injection of red-fluorescent Lewis Lung Carcinoma-cells (tdtLLC) was performed two weeks later. Formation of brain metastases was followed by repetitive two-photon laser scanning microscopy.
Results: After intracarotid injection, intravascular tumor cells extravasated into the cerebral parenchyma and eventually formed micrometastases (≤50 cells) and mature macrometastases (>50 cells). We observed phagocytosis of extravasated tumor cells by TAM/M during early steps of metastatic growth. Notably, these anti-tumor effects of TAM/M diminished during later steps of metastasis formation and were accompanied by TAM/M accumulation and activation.
CX3CR1-deficiency resulted in a lower number of extravasated tumor cells, and only a small number of TAM/M were visualized during early steps of metastasis formation (extravasation, formation of micrometastases) in such mice. In contrast, progression of extravasated tumor cells into micrometastases was more frequently found in CX3CR1-deficient mice. Overall, these mechanisms resulted in a comparable number of mature macrometastases between CX3CR1-deficient and -proficient mice.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that unspecific inhibition of CX3CR1 might not be a suitable therapeutic approach to prevent cerebral dissemination of lung cancer cells. Given the close interaction between TAM/M and tumour cells during metastasis formation, other therapeutic approaches targeting TAM/M function warrant evaluation. Such concepts might be evaluated in vivo using the herein established orthotopic mouse model.