ArticleFrontiers in immunology2023
Alpha fetoprotein promotes polarization of macrophages towards M2-like phenotype and inhibits macrophages to phagocytize hepatoma cells.
Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 40 citations in OpenAlex.
- A nucleic acid labeling chemistry reveals surface DNA on exosomes.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026Article
- HBx Induces the Production of N-GPC3 in Hepatoma Cells to Promote the Evasion of Macrophage Phagocytosis Through Activating Furin.Journal of cellular and molecular medicine · 2026Article
- HBx Promotes Liver Cancer Cells to Escape NK-92 Cell Attack by Mediating ADAM10 to Enzyme Cut MICA/B Shedding From Cancer Cell Membrane.Journal of cellular and molecular medicine · 2026Article
- Alpha-Fetoprotein Stimulates Cleavage of Membranal MICA/B on Liver Cancer Cell Lead to Escape Immune Surveillance of Natural Killer Cells.Journal of cellular and molecular medicine · 2026Article
- Glycolytic reprogramming and immune responses in macrophages: a crosstalk driven by bacterial infection.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Contribution of particle-induced lysosome membrane permeabilization to NLRP3 inflammasome activation and mitochondrial ROS production.Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2025Article
- Differences in macrophage pyroptosis and polarization induced by nano-/micro-calcium oxalate crystals.Journal of nanobiotechnology · 2025Article
- Targeting Decidual Macrophage Polarization through JNK Signaling Pathway Inhibition Alleviates Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Early Spontaneous Abortion.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2025Article
- Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer: clinicopathological features and treatment strategies.Cell & bioscience · 2025Review
- Exploring the Multifunctional Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein in Cancer Progression: Implications for Targeted Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Beyond.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Identification of M0 macrophage associated lipid metabolism genes for prognostic and immunotherapeutic response prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma.Discover oncology · 2025Article
- [New progress in the technology of non-invasive diagnosis for small hepatocellular carcinoma].Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology · 2025Review
- Role of the AKT signaling pathway in regulating tumor-associated macrophage polarization and in the tumor microenvironment: A review.Medicine · 2025Review
- Safety and clinical efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.Frontiers in oncology · 2025Article
- Mechanisms of Macrophage Polarization Regulated by Oridonin: A Review.Journal of inflammation research · 2025Review
- Changes in perioperative serum transaminase levels: predicting early recurrence after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.Frontiers in oncology · 2025Article
- Immunomodulatory role of vitamin D and emerging immunotherapies in hepatocellular carcinoma.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Review
- Alpha-fetoprotein: Past, present, and future.Hepatology communications · 2024Review
- Structural characteristics of alpha-fetoprotein, including N-glycosylation, metal ion and fatty acid binding sites.Communications biology · 2024Article
- The diagnostic, prognostic, drug sensitivity and ceRNA internet ofTranslational cancer research · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) is a cancer biomarker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC); however, its role in macrophage polarization and phagocytosis remains unclear. In the present study, we explored the correlation between AFP regulation of macrophage function and the possible regulatory mechanisms. Human mononuclear leukemia cells (THP-1) and monocytes from healthy donors were used to analyze the effect of AFP on the macrophages' phenotype and phagocytosis. THP-1 cells and healthy human donor-derived monocytes were polarized into M0 macrophages induced by phorbol ester (PMA), and M0 macrophages were polarized into M1 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and interferon-γ(IFN-γ). Interleukin-4(IL-4) and interleukin-13(IL-13) were used to induce M0 macrophage polarization into M2 macrophages. Tumor-derived AFP(tAFP) stimulated M0 macrophage polarization into M2 macrophages and inhibited M1 macrophages to phagocytize HCC cells. The role of AFP in promoting macrophage polarization into M2 macrophages and inhibiting the M1 macrophages to phagocytize HCC cells may be involved in activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. AFP could also enhanced the migration ability of macrophages and inhibited the apoptosis of HCC cells when co-cultured with M1-like macrophages. AFP is a pivotal cytokine that inhibits macrophages to phagocytize HCC cells.
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