In different transplantable and transgenic mouse tumor models we identified M1-like MHC IIhi and M2-like MHC IIlow macrophages, that perform distinct functions and are located in normoxic and hypoxic tumor regions, respectively.
We currently investigate:
- the relative in vivo contribution of each TAM subset to tumor characteristics (growth, metastasis, vessel function, etc),
- the intratumoral microenvironmental signals that govern the TAM subset phenotype,
- the bidirectional interaction between TAM subsets and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.