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Updated: Jul 19, 2025
Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports
Published on: November 28, 2019
Tissue-resident macrophages - early passengers or drivers in the tumor niche?
Andrea Vogel1, Thomas Weichhart1
1Institute for Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
Macrophages within the tumor microenvironment of solid tumors and metastasis are heterogeneous populations, which contribute to diverse steps of tumorigenesis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can either derive from circulation-derived monocytes or tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs). In health, TRMs populate the majority of tissues, orchestrating critical homeostatic and reparative functions. While TRM-specific functions in tumor initiation and progression remain unclear, recent studies have revealed that TRMs are a significant source of TAMs in both mouse and human cancers, where they closely resemble gene signatures of their normal, organ-specific TRM counterparts. In this review, we highlight recent advances toward systematically understanding the role of TRMs as an important TAM subset and opportunities how this macrophage population could be exploited for therapeutical targeting strategies.
Insights
Tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are a key source of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in cancers. Understanding TRMs offers new therapeutic strategies for targeting cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Tumor microenvironment (TME) contains heterogeneous macrophage populations, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).
- TAMs originate from circulating monocytes or tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs).
- TRMs perform vital homeostatic and repair functions in healthy tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the role of TRMs as a significant TAM subset.
- To explore therapeutic targeting strategies involving TRMs in cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on TRMs and TAMs.
- Analysis of gene expression signatures in TRM-derived TAMs.
- Examination of TRM functions in cancer initiation and progression.
Main Results:
- TRMs are a major source of TAMs in both mouse and human cancers.
- TRM-derived TAMs share gene expression profiles with their normal counterparts.
- TRM-specific functions in tumorigenesis are increasingly recognized.
Conclusions:
- TRMs represent a distinct and important TAM subset.
- Targeting TRMs presents a promising therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment.
- Further research into TRM biology can unlock novel anti-cancer strategies.
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