Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo
08:19

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo

Published on: July 20, 2019

6.3K

Myeloid PTEN promotes chemotherapy-induced NLRP3-inflammasome activation and antitumour immunity

Yi Huang1,2, Huanyu Wang1, Yize Hao1

  • 1Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

Nature Cell Biology
|May 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Myeloid cell PTEN is crucial for chemotherapy effectiveness by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and promoting anti-tumor immunity. This finding suggests PTEN in myeloid cells could predict patient response to cancer therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) is a tumor suppressor frequently mutated in cancer, linked to therapy resistance.
  • Its role in the tumor immune microenvironment remains largely unexplored.
  • Understanding PTEN's function in immunity is critical for developing new cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of PTEN in chemotherapy-induced anti-tumor immune responses.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which PTEN influences the tumor immune microenvironment.
  • To determine if myeloid PTEN can serve as a predictive biomarker for chemotherapy response.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized mouse models and cell-based assays to study PTEN's function in myeloid cells.
  • Investigated the interaction between PTEN and the NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, ASC).
  • Analyzed clinical patient data to correlate PTEN expression with chemotherapy outcomes and IL-1β production.

Main Results:

  • Chemotherapy-induced anti-tumor immunity and tumor suppression depend on PTEN in myeloid cells.
  • PTEN directly dephosphorylates NLRP3, facilitating inflammasome assembly and activation.
  • Restoring IL-1β levels rescued chemotherapy sensitivity in PTEN-deficient myeloid cells.
  • Clinical data showed PTEN expression in myeloid cells, not tumor cells, correlates with IL-1β production and anti-tumor immunity.

Conclusions:

  • Myeloid PTEN is essential for chemotherapy efficacy through NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent anti-tumor immunity.
  • PTEN's interaction with NLRP3 is a key mechanism linking innate immunity and chemotherapy response.
  • Myeloid PTEN expression may serve as a predictive biomarker for chemotherapy responsiveness in cancer patients.

More Related Videos

Flow Cytometry-Based Isolation and Therapeutic Evaluation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in a Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer07:55

Flow Cytometry-Based Isolation and Therapeutic Evaluation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in a Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer

Published on: January 17, 2025

1.5K
Isolation and Characterization of Neutrophils with Anti-Tumor Properties10:15

Isolation and Characterization of Neutrophils with Anti-Tumor Properties

Published on: June 19, 2015

25.3K

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.0K
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.5K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
1.7K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
8.0K