The parallel lives of angiogenesis and immunosuppression: cancer and other tales

• Published in: Nature reviews. Immunology Vol. 11; no. 10; pp. 702 - 711
• Main Authors: Coukos, George, Motz, Gregory T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.10.2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/250/516; 631/67/1059/2325; 631/67/2328; Angiogenesis; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Care and treatment; Cell Communication - immunology; Cytokines; Cytokines - immunology; Cytokines - metabolism; Endothelium; Health aspects; Homeostasis - immunology; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunology; Immunosuppression; Immunosuppressive Agents - immunology; Immunosuppressive Agents - metabolism; Immunotherapy; Infections; Inflammation; Injuries; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - immunology; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Kinases; Mice; Myeloid Cells - cytology; Myeloid Cells - immunology; Myeloid Cells - metabolism; Neoplasm Proteins - immunology; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasm Proteins - secretion; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - immunology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology; opinion-2; Pathogens; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Reproduction; Stromal Cells - cytology; Stromal Cells - immunology; Stromal Cells - metabolism; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Tissues; Transcription factors; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology; Tumors; Wound healing; United States
• ISSN: 1474-1733; 1474-1741
• DOI: 10.1038/nri3064

This article discusses the evidence in support of the simultaneous activation of angiogenesis and immunosuppression in a homeostatic tissue repair programme and proposes that these normal biological processes are co-opted by tumours to enhance tumour growth. Emerging evidence indicates that angiogenesis and immunosuppression frequently occur simultaneously in response to diverse stimuli. Here, we describe a fundamental biological programme that involves the activation of both angiogenesis and immunosuppressive responses, often through the same cell types or soluble factors. We suggest that the initiation of these responses is part of a physiological and homeostatic tissue repair programme, which can be co-opted in pathological states, notably by tumours. This view can help to devise new cancer therapies and may have implications for aseptic tissue injury, pathogen-mediated tissue destruction, chronic inflammation and even reproduction.