Tumour-associated macrophages activate migration and STAT3 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells in co-cultures.

OBJECTIVES: Tumour-associated macrophages participate in tumour development and progression. The aim of this study was to assess the interactions of pancreatic cancer cells and pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, specifically their effect on pancreatic cancer cell migration and the changes in STAT-signalling.

METHODS: Monocytes were isolated from healthy subjects and differentiated into macrophages with M-CSF. The macrophages were polarized towards M1 by IL-12 and towards M2 by IL-10. We studied also the effect of pan-JAK/STAT-inhibitor P6. Macrophage polarization and STAT and NFkB-activation in both MiaPaCa-2 and macrophages were assessed by flow cytometry. We recorded the effect of co-culture on migration rate of pancreatic cancer cells MiaPaCa-2.

RESULTS: Macrophages increased the migration rate of pancreatic cancer cells. Co-culture activated STAT1, STAT3, STAT5, AKT, and NFkB in macrophages and STAT3 in MiaPaCa-2 cells. IL-12 polarized macrophages towards M1 and decreased the migration rate of pancreatic cancer cells in co-cultures as well as P6. IL-10 skewed macrophage polarization towards M2 and induced increase of pancreatic cancer cells in co-cultures.

CONCLUSION: Co-culture with macrophages increased pancreatic cancer cell migration and activated STAT3. It is possible to activate and deactivate migration of pancreatic cancer cells trough macrophage polarization.