BACKGROUND

Lung metastasis is a critical and often fatal progression in cancer patients, with monocyte-derived macrophages (Mo-macs) playing multifaceted roles in this process. Despite the recognized importance of Mac-macs, most studies focus on these cells themselves, while the precise mechanisms through which tumor cells manipulate Mo-macs to promote metastasis remain poorly understood.

METHODS

We developed an in vivo CRISPR screening system to identify genes involved in macrophage-dependent metastasis by depleting Mo-macs. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was identified as the factor significantly enhances lung metastasis. We validated its function in lung metastasis by modulating the expression of OPG in an array of cell lines and performed spontaneous and experimental lung metastasis assays. Genetically engineered mice were utilized to confirm the role of RANKL-RANK signaling in OPG-mediated metastasis. Additionally, we employed different neutralizing antibodies to elucidate the roles of Mo-macs and NK cells and inhibitor to clarify the role of CXCL10 signaling.

FINDINGS

Employing in vivo screening techniques, we elucidate the role of OPG, a protein secreted by cancer cells, in driving lung metastasis, contingent upon regulating Mo-mac activity. OPG blocks the signaling cascade between receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK on Mo-macs, thereby hindering Mo-macs from secreting CXCL10, a chemokine crucial for recruiting natural killer (NK) cells that help control lung metastasis. Moreover, we observe an enrichment of OPG amplifications in metastatic cancer patients, and elevated levels of OPG expression in lung metastatic sites compared to paired primary breast cancer samples.

INTERPRETATION

Our work revealed that OPG works as a lung metastasis promoting factor by blocking the RANKL-RANK-CXCL10 axis to drive the paucity of NK cells, which could be a therapeutic target for lung metastatic cancer patients.

FUNDING

The full list of funding supporting this study can be found in the Acknowledgements section.