Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • In-Press Preview
    • Resource and Technical Advances
    • Clinical Research and Public Health
    • Research Letters
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Physician-Scientist Development
    • Reviews
    • Top read articles

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • In-Press Preview
  • Resource and Technical Advances
  • Clinical Research and Public Health
  • Research Letters
  • Editorials
  • Perspectives
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Reviews
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
Autophagic adaptation to oxidative stress alters peritoneal residential macrophage survival and ovarian cancer metastasis
Houjun Xia, Shasha Li, Xiong Li, Weichao Wang, Yingjie Bian, Shuang Wei, Sara Grove, Weimin Wang, Linda Vatan, J. Rebecca Liu, Karen McLean, Ramandeep Rattan, Adnan Munkarah, Jun-Lin Guan, Ilona Kryczek, Weiping Zou
Houjun Xia, Shasha Li, Xiong Li, Weichao Wang, Yingjie Bian, Shuang Wei, Sara Grove, Weimin Wang, Linda Vatan, J. Rebecca Liu, Karen McLean, Ramandeep Rattan, Adnan Munkarah, Jun-Lin Guan, Ilona Kryczek, Weiping Zou
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Immunology

Autophagic adaptation to oxidative stress alters peritoneal residential macrophage survival and ovarian cancer metastasis

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) affect cancer progression and therapy. Ovarian carcinoma often metastasizes to the peritoneal cavity. Here, we found 2 peritoneal macrophage subsets in mice bearing ID8 ovarian cancer based on T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 4 (Tim-4) expression. Tim-4+ TAMs were embryonically originated and locally sustained while Tim-4– TAMs were replenished from circulating monocytes. Tim-4+ TAMs, but not Tim-4– TAMs, promoted tumor growth in vivo. Relative to Tim-4– TAMs, Tim-4+ TAMs manifested high oxidative phosphorylation and adapted mitophagy to alleviate oxidative stress. High levels of arginase-1 in Tim-4+ TAMs contributed to potent mitophagy activities via weakened mTORC1 activation due to low arginine resultant from arginase-1–mediated metabolism. Furthermore, genetic deficiency of autophagy element FAK family-interacting protein of 200 kDa resulted in Tim-4+ TAM loss via ROS-mediated apoptosis and elevated T cell immunity and ID8 tumor inhibition in vivo. Moreover, human ovarian cancer–associated macrophages positive for complement receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily (CRIg) were transcriptionally, metabolically, and functionally similar to murine Tim-4+ TAMs. Thus, targeting CRIg+ (Tim-4+) TAMs may potentially treat patients with ovarian cancer with peritoneal metastasis.

Authors

Houjun Xia, Shasha Li, Xiong Li, Weichao Wang, Yingjie Bian, Shuang Wei, Sara Grove, Weimin Wang, Linda Vatan, J. Rebecca Liu, Karen McLean, Ramandeep Rattan, Adnan Munkarah, Jun-Lin Guan, Ilona Kryczek, Weiping Zou

×

Figure 5

Arginase-1 affects mitochondria fitness and mitophagy via mTORC1 in Tim-4+ TAMs.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
Arginase-1 affects mitochondria fitness and mitophagy via mTORC1 in Tim-...
(A) Western blot showing mTORC1 activity in fresh Tim-4+ TAMs and Tim-4– TAMs. One representative of 3 is shown. (B) Western blot showing mTORC1 activity in Tim-4+ TAMs and Tim-4– TAMs. TAMs were isolated from tumor-bearing mice and cultured overnight in completed medium. TAMs were stimulated in amino acid–free (-AA) medium or full amino acid medium (+AA) for 4 hours. One representative of 3 is shown. (C) Western blot showing mTORC1 activity in Tim-4+ TAMs treated with arginine for 24 hours. One representative of 3 is shown. (D) Measurement of arginase-1 expression in Tim-4+ TAMs and Tim-4– TAMs by flow cytometry. The paired Tim-4+ and Tim-4– TAMs were from the same mouse. (n = 7 mice/group). *P < 0.05 (Mann-Whitney U test). (E) Measurement of arginase activity Tim-4+ TAMs and Tim-4– TAMs by ELISA. The paired Tim-4+ and Tim-4– TAMs were from the same mice. (n = 4 mice/group). *P < 0.05 (Mann-Whitney U test). (F) Western blot showing mTORC1 activity in Tim-4+ TAMs treated with arginase inhibitor nor-NOHA (0.5 mM), for 24 hours. One representative of 3 is shown. (G) Effect of arginine on damaged mitochondria accumulation (mitophagy) in Tim-4+ TAMs. In the absence or presence of rapamycin, mitochondria damage was induced as described in Tim-4+ TAMs without (control), or with, arginine or arginase-1 inhibitor nor-NOHA. Damaged mitochondria accumulation was determined by FACS. Results were normalized to control. (n = 4 mice/group, mean ± SEM). ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001 (1-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple-comparisons test).

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts