The role of sympathetic nerve associated macrophages during pancreatic adenocarcinoma progression

项目概要/摘要 胰腺导管腺癌（PDAC）是所有主要癌症中死亡率最高的。而 免疫疗法已经彻底改变了对许多癌症的治疗，这种对胰腺癌患者的治疗 导管腺癌（PDAC）尚未成功。当前免疫方法的失败 是由于胰腺肿瘤的许多特征，包括：免疫原性差和高度免疫原性。 免疫抑制肿瘤微环境（TME）。宏观经济被认为是一个焦点， PDAC期间的干预性研究，因为它们调节免疫抑制，促进促纤维化， 微环境，以及在促进肿瘤沿沿着局部神经进展中发挥重要作用。的 自主神经系统与局部巨噬细胞密切合作。自主神经刺激 巨噬细胞中细胞因子和趋化因子的产生有助于它们的上述功能，然而， 神经与免疫系统沟通并协调释放的信号机制 致瘤因素是未知的。根据我们的初步数据，我假设去甲肾上腺素（NA）释放 从交感神经结合到交感神经相关巨噬细胞（SAM）上的肾上腺素能受体， 从而支持肿瘤进展。研究胰腺局部神经间的交通 和免疫细胞，我们使用来自人类和小鼠PDAC肿瘤的离体胰腺组织切片。与此 技术平台，我们能够可视化神经，巨噬细胞和肿瘤细胞以最小的破坏 从自然状态。我们将描述巨噬细胞中[Ca 2 +]i响应自主神经损伤的特征。 神经递质，以及使用有针对性的体内方法，以确定是否阻断肾上腺素能 免疫细胞内的信号传导促进抗肿瘤应答。结合我们初步的生理数据， 我们将使用分子方法来进一步探索这种串扰。我们希望我们的研究结果能确定 PDAC背景下巨噬细胞、肿瘤细胞和自主神经之间的通讯网络 这将为这种致命疾病带来新的治疗方法。

Project Summary/Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. While immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment for numerous cancers, such treatments for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have not been successful. Failure of the current immunotherapeutic approaches are due to numerous features of pancreatic tumors including; poor immunogenicity and a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Macrophages are considered as a focal point for interventional studies during PDAC given that they regulate immunosuppression, promote a pro-fibrotic microenvironment, as well as play an essential role in promoting tumor progression along local nerves. The autonomic nervous system work in close partnership with local macrophages. Autonomic nerves stimulate cytokine and chemokine production in macrophages that contribute to their aforementioned functions, however, the signaling mechanisms by which nerves communicate with the immune system and coordinate the release of tumorigenic factors are unknown. Based on our preliminary data, I hypothesize that noradrenaline (NA) released from sympathetic nerves binds to adrenergic receptors on sympathetic nerve associated macrophages (SAMs), which consequently support tumor progression. To study the communication between local pancreatic nerves and immune cells, we are using ex vivo pancreatic tissue slices from human and mouse PDAC tumors. With this technological platform, we are able to visualize nerves, macrophages, and tumor cells with minimal disruption from their natural state. We will characterize [Ca2+]i responses in macrophages in response to autonomic neurotransmitters, as well as use a targeted in-vivo approach in order to determine if blocking adrenergic signaling within immune cells promotes anti-tumor responses. Combined with our preliminary physiological data, we will use molecular approaches to further explore this crosstalk. We expect our results to identify communication networks between macrophages, tumor cells and autonomic nerves in the setting of PDAC perineural invasion that will prompt new therapeutic approaches for this deadly disease.