Increased expression of CD36 and CD163 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma suggests an association between lipid transport and an "M2-like" macrophage phenotype - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #macrophages
- #lipid metabolism
- #ccRCC
- Increased expression of CD36 and CD163 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) suggests a link between lipid transport and an 'M2-like' macrophage phenotype.
- ccRCC is characterized by intracellular lipid accumulation and dysregulated lipid metabolism, contributing to tumor progression and immune suppression.
- Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in ccRCC are abundant and diverse, with CD68 marking general macrophage presence and CD163 indicating immunosuppressive M2-like subsets.
- CD36 (fatty acid transporter) and CD147 (metabolic regulator) may influence macrophage polarization, but their associations with TAM phenotypes and tumor lipid content in ccRCC were unclear.
- Analysis of 23 ccRCC patient samples revealed increased lipid accumulation and CD36 expression on both CD45-negative cells and macrophages.
- Macrophages expressed CD163, suggesting an M2-like phenotype, with higher CD163 expression in larger tumors.
- CD163 on macrophages positively correlated with CD36 on CD45-negative cells, while CD8 T cells were fewer in tumors with high CD36 expression.
- CD147 was broadly expressed and correlated with CD36 on CD45-negative cells and CD163 on macrophages.
- Lipidomic analyses showed accumulation of triacylglycerols, which correlated with CD163.
- Single-cell RNA-seq revealed CD163 expression across all TAM subsets and compartmentalized distribution of lipid metabolism genes.
- Findings suggest a metabolic-immune axis in ccRCC, with CD36 and CD147 potentially suppressing anti-tumor immunity.
- Targeting TAM metabolism may enhance immunotherapeutic efficacy in ccRCC.