Extracellular matrix educates an immunoregulatory tumor macrophage phenotype found in ovarian cancer metastasis.

Recent studies have shown that the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) associates with immunosuppression, and that targeting the ECM can improve immune infiltration and responsiveness to immunotherapy. A question that remains unresolved is whether the ECM directly educates the immune phenotypes seen in tumors. Here, we identify a tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) population associated with poor prognosis, interruption of the cancer immunity cycle, and tumor ECM composition. To investigate whether the ECM was capable of generating this TAM phenotype, we developed a decellularized tissue model that retains the native ECM architecture and composition. Macrophages cultured on decellularized ovarian metastasis shared transcriptional profiles with the TAMs found in human tissue. ECM-educated macrophages have a tissue-remodeling and immunoregulatory phenotype, inducing altered T cell marker expression and proliferation. We conclude that the tumor ECM directly educates this macrophage population found in cancer tissues. Therefore, current and emerging cancer therapies that target the tumor ECM may be tailored to improve macrophage phenotype and their downstream regulation of immunity.

YAP activation inhibits inflammatory signalling and cartilage breakdown associated with reduced primary cilia expression.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of YAP in modulating cartilage inflammation and degradation and the involvement of primary cilia and associated intraflagellar transport (IFT). METHODS: Isolated primary chondrocytes were cultured on substrates of different stiffness (6-1000 kPa) or treated with YAP agonist lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) or YAP antagonist verteporfin (VP), or genetically modified by YAP siRNA, all ± IL1ß. Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release were measured to monitor IL1ß response. YAP activity was quantified by YAP nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and percentage of YAP-positive cells. Mechanical properties of cartilage explants were tested to confirm cartilage degradation. The involvement of primary cilia and IFT was analysed using IFT88 siRNA and ORPK cells with hypomorphic mutation of IFT88. RESULTS: Treatment with LPA, or increasing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate stiffness, activated YAP nuclear expression and inhibited IL1ß-induced release of NO and PGE2, in isolated chondrocytes. Treatment with LPA also inhibited IL1ß-mediated inflammatory signalling in cartilage explants and prevented matrix degradation and the loss of cartilage biomechanics. YAP activation reduced expression of primary cilia, knockdown of YAP in the absence of functional cilia/IFT failed to induce an inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that both pharmaceutical and mechanical activation of YAP blocks pro-inflammatory signalling induced by IL1ß and prevents cartilage breakdown and the loss of biomechanical functionality. This is associated with reduced expression of primary cilia revealing a potential anti-inflammatory mechanism with novel therapeutic targets for treatment of osteoarthritis (OA).