Yin Bo, Chen Chun, Huang Baoyou, Ding Jianyi, Hu Haoran, Zhou Huijuan, Zhu Yashi, Huang Tiefeng, He Xiang, Lu Yuan, Han Lingfei
Department of Gynecology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Department of Gynecology, The Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Front Immunol. 2025 Jul 21;16:1621816. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1621816. eCollection 2025.
INTRODUCTION: CMTM6, a member of the CKLF like MARVEL transmembrane (CMTM) gene family, has emerged as a critical orchestrator of oncogenic processes, yet its specific role in cervical cancer (CC) remains insufficiently characterized. Mounting evidence implicates that CMTM6 in sculpting an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). METHODS: We investigated the expression and functional role of CMTM6 in CC cells using in vitro biological assays and a mouse xenograft model. The impact of CMTM6 on macrophage polarization and its association with tumor progression were systematically evaluated through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, focusing on the induction of M2a macrophage polarization and activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that exosomes secreted by CC cells encapsulate CMTM6, which is actively internalized by macrophages, inducing M2a polarization and triggering immunosuppressive pathways. Excessive macrophage infiltration in the TME, particularly in the presence of CMTM6, is strongly associated with unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, exosomal CMTM6 activates the mTOR signaling pathway in tumor-associated macrophages, enhancing CCL2 secretion, which further promotes M2a polarization and accelerates tumor metastasis. DISCUSSION: These findings highlight exosomal CMTM6 as a crucial driver of immune suppression in CC, with the CMTM6/CD206/CCL2 axis significantly increasing the risk for CC patients. Our study underscores the potential of exosomal CMTM6 as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for CC immunotherapy.
引言:CMTM6是CKLF样MARVEL跨膜(CMTM)基因家族的成员,已成为致癌过程的关键协调者,但其在宫颈癌(CC)中的具体作用仍未得到充分表征。越来越多的证据表明,CMTM6参与塑造免疫抑制性肿瘤微环境(TME)。 方法:我们使用体外生物学测定和小鼠异种移植模型研究了CMTM6在CC细胞中的表达和功能作用。通过一系列体外和体内实验,系统评估了CMTM6对巨噬细胞极化的影响及其与肿瘤进展的关联,重点是诱导M2a巨噬细胞极化和激活mTOR信号通路。 结果:我们的结果表明,CC细胞分泌的外泌体包裹着CMTM6,巨噬细胞可主动摄取CMTM6,诱导M2a极化并触发免疫抑制途径。TME中巨噬细胞过度浸润,尤其是在存在CMTM6的情况下,与不良预后密切相关。此外,外泌体CMTM6激活肿瘤相关巨噬细胞中的mTOR信号通路,增强CCL2分泌,进一步促进M2a极化并加速肿瘤转移。 讨论:这些发现突出了外泌体CMTM6是CC免疫抑制的关键驱动因素,CMTM6/CD206/CCL2轴显著增加了CC患者的风险。我们的研究强调了外泌体CMTM6作为CC免疫治疗的预后生物标志物和治疗靶点的潜力。
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