HLA-DR+ Schwann Cells Generate the Protumor Cancer-Neuron-Immune Niche in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #Schwann cells
- #Tumor microenvironment
- #HNSCC
- Schwann cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) undergo a dynamic transition, leading to an HLA-DR+ subpopulation that is induced by cancer cells and enriched during tumor progression.
- Cancer cells educate Schwann cells via the NRG1/ERBB3 axis, activating the JAK/STAT pathway, which confers immunoregulatory and pro-tumor phenotypes.
- HLA-DR+ Schwann cells secrete CCL2, inducing pro-tumor Il1β macrophages that promote CD4+ T cell accumulation via CXCL10/CXCR3, shaping a cancer-neuron-immune niche that facilitates HNSCC progression.
- Inhibitors targeting CCL2 (Pirfenidone) and CXCR3 (AMG487) show tumor-suppressive effects in orthotopic models, highlighting potential therapeutic strategies for HNSCC.
- The study provides insights into tumor neurology and the tumor microenvironment, with implications for developing treatments targeting the cancer-neuron-immune niche in HNSCC patients.