Using Cytometry for Investigation of Purinergic Signalling in Tumor‐Associated Macrophages

Tumor‐associated macrophages are widely recognized for their importance in guiding pro‐tumoral or antitumoral responses. The communication between cells in the tumor microenvironment strongly relies on the secretion and recognition of several molecules, including damage‐associated molecular patterns, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Extracellular ATP and its degradation products act as signaling molecules and have extensively described roles in immune response, inflammation and in cancer. These multiple functions highlight the purinergic system as a promising target to investigate the interplay between macrophages and cancer cells. In a recent issue of Cytometry Part A, Arnaud‐Sampaio et al. review purinergic signaling pathways connecting cancer cells and macrophages, a yet poorly investigated field. Finally, the authors present a new tool for the characterization of macrophage phenotype within the tumor. Image cytometry emerges as a cutting‐edge tool, capable of providing a broad set of information on cell morphology, expression of specific markers, and its cellular or subcellular localization, preserving cell–cell interactions within the tumor section and providing high statistical strength in small‐sized experiments. Thus, image cytometry allows deeper investigation of tumor heterogeneity and interactions between these cells.

Vanessa F. Arnaud‐Sampaio et al.

Cytometry Part A, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.a.24035

使用细胞计数法研究肿瘤相关巨噬细胞的嘌呤能信号传导

肿瘤相关的巨噬细胞在指导肿瘤前或抗肿瘤反应中的重要性已得到广泛认可。肿瘤微环境中细胞之间的通讯在很大程度上取决于几种分子的分泌和识别，包括与损伤相关的分子模式，例如三磷酸腺苷（ATP）。细胞外ATP及其降解产物起信号分子的作用，并在免疫反应，炎症和癌症中具有广泛的作用。这些多种功能突显了嘌呤能系统作为研究巨噬细胞和癌细胞之间相互作用的有希望的靶标。在最近的《细胞计数法》 A部分中，Arnaud‐Sampaio等。综述了连接癌细胞和巨噬细胞的嘌呤能信号通路，但尚未得到充分研究。最后，作者提出了表征肿瘤内巨噬细胞表型的新工具。图像细胞计数法是一种新兴的工具，能够提供有关细胞形态，特定标志物的表达及其细胞或亚细胞定位的广泛信息，从而保留肿瘤部分内的细胞间相互作用，并在小范围内提供较高的统计强度。尺寸的实验。因此，图像细胞术可以更深入地研究肿瘤异质性以及这些细胞之间的相互作用。

Vanessa F.Arnaud‐Sampaio等。

细胞计量A部分，2020

DOI：https：//doi.org/10.1002/cyto.a.24035