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Review
. 2024 Feb:75:93-100.
doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.10.002. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and uterine fibroids: Role in collagen synthesis

Eslam E Saad  1 , Rachel Michel  2 , Mostafa A Borahay  3
Affiliations
Review

Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and uterine fibroids: Role in collagen synthesis

Eslam E Saad et al. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Uterine fibroids (UF), also called uterine leiomyoma, is one of the most prevalent uterine tumors. UF represents a serious women's health global problem with a significant physical, emotional, and socioeconomic impact. Risk factors for UF include racial disparities, age, race, hormonal factors, obesity, and lifestyle (diet, physical activity, and stress. There are several biological contributors to UF pathogenesis such as cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. This review addresses tumor immune microenvironment as a novel mediator of ECM deposition. Polarization of immune microenvironment towards the immunosuppressive phenotype has been associated with ECM deposition. Immunosuppressive cells include M2 macrophage, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and Th17 cells, and their secretomes include interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IL-22, arginase 1, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1). The change in the immune microenvironment not only increase tumor growth but also aids in collagen synthesis and ECM disposition, which is one of the main hallmarks of UF pathogenesis. This review invites further investigations on the change in the UF immune microenvironment as well as a novel targeting approach instead of the traditional UF hormonal and supportive treatment.

Keywords: ECM; M2 Macrophage; MDSCs; TH17; Uterine Fibroids.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Competing interests The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Effect of Different immune cells on ECM deposition and UF progression
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Effect of M2 macrophage on collagen synthesis
Figure 3:
Figure 3:
Effect of MDSCs on collagen synthesis.
Figure 4:
Figure 4:
Effect of TH17 on collagen synthesis. Here, Table 1 summarize our findings about role of immunosuppressive cells in ECM deposition
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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