Alternatively activated macrophages upregulate mesothelial expression of P-selectin to enhance adhesion of ovarian cancer cells

Peritoneal metastasis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) occurs when tumor cells suspended in ascites adhere to mesothelial cells. Despite the strong relationship between metastatic burden and prognosis in HGSOC, there are currently no therapies specifically targeting the metastatic process. We utilized a co-culture model and multivariate analysis to examine how interactions between tumor cells, mesothelial cells, and alternatively-activated macrophages (AAMs) influence the adhesion of tumor cells to mesothelial cells. We found that AAM-secreted MIP-1β activates CCR5/PI3K signaling in mesothelial cells, resulting in expression of P-selectin on the mesothelial cell surface. Tumor cells attached to this de novo P-selectin through CD24, resulting in increased tumor cell adhesion in static conditions and rolling under flow. C57/BL6 mice treated with MIP-1β exhibited increased P-selectin expression on mesothelial cells lining peritoneal tissues, which enhanced CaOV3 adhesion ex vivo and ID8 adhesion in vivo. Analysis of samples from HGSOC patients confirmed increased MIP-1β and P-selectin, suggesting that this novel multi-cellular mechanism could be targeted to slow or stop metastasis in HGSOC by repurposing anti- CCR5 and P-selectin therapies developed for other indications.

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