British scientists are working on a novel technique to reduce the support given by the immune system to growing cancer cells.
Although immune cells can detect abnormal cells in all bodily tissues, cancer cells often influence the immune system to provide support rather than destroy them, according to researchers in Bristol.
One possible avenue for cancer treatment is to reprogram inflammatory cells in the immune system to ensure they destroy cancer cells.
Professor Paul Martin of the University of Bristol, UK, and colleagues examined the potential of altering immune cell-expressed miRNAs, or miRs, as a cancer therapy.
They carried out tests on translucent zebrafish and human cells, and found that the removal of microRNA-223 – whether it is removed altogether or specifically in leukocyte cells – can reduce cancer progression.
In Advanced Science on Monday, they reported on this novel strategy for reprogramming the leukocyte cells neutrophils and macrophages, by holding back the anti-inflammatory miR223.
This prolongs the pro-inflammatory state of leukocyte cells "by blocking the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines". Doing so, the interactions between immune cells and cancer cells are altered and the cancer cells are destroyed.
The strategy of reprogramming leukocytes "has implications also for treating other systemic or local immune-mediated pathologies," they report.
Professor Martin said: “Our results highlight the therapeutic benefits of harnessing host immunity to eradicate cancers and demonstrate the feasibility of using protocells to deliver cargoes for reprogramming innate immune cells.
"While our experiments in zebrafish are early pre-clinical studies, our results indicate that the same is possible for human immune cells, at least in vitro, and can be similarly reprogrammed to suppress cancer growth.”
Lopez-Cuevas, P. et al. Macrophage reprogramming with anti-miR223-loaded artificial protocells enhances in vivo cancer therapeutic potential. Advanced Science 31 October 2022; doi: 10.1002/advs.202202717
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