AXL/GAS6 signaling governs differentiation of tumor-associated macrophages in breast cancer

Most epithelial cancers are infiltrated by prognostically relevant myelomonocytic cells. Immunosuppressive tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and their precursor monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have previously been associated with worse outcomes in human breast cancer (BCa), yet the mechanism of immunosuppressive TAMs-polarization from myelomonocytic precursors is not completely understood. In this study, we show that persuaded AXL/GAS6 pathway alters macrophage phenotype from HLA-DR^highCD206^lowCD163^low classical phagocytic into HLA-DR^lowCD206^highCD163^high immunosuppressive ones with accelerated BCa progression, and increased angiogenesis signature and invasion ability of cancer cells at tumor beds. Notably, both AXL and GAS6 expressions are upregulated in human invasive breast carcinoma, with maximum expression in triple negative histology type. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that AXL/GAS6 signaling drives immunosuppression by governing increased immunosuppressive IL10 production while dampening IL-1β expression within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of BCa. Further, AXL/GAS6 signaling promotes angiogenesis through the activation of PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. Our results unveil role of AXL/GAS6 axis in the differentiation of TAMs, which governs malignant growth, and suggest that therapies that uncouple AXL/GAS6 axis may exhibit therapeutic opportunity for otherwise undruggable Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) patients.