The cellular triumvirate: fibroblasts entangled in the crosstalk between cancer cells and immune cells

Front Immunol. 2024 Jan 18:14:1337333. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1337333. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

This review article will focus on subpopulations of fibroblasts that get reprogrammed by tumor cells into cancer-associated fibroblasts. Throughout this article, we will discuss the intricate interactions between fibroblasts, immune cells, and tumor cells. Unravelling complex intercellular crosstalk will pave the way for new insights into cellular mechanisms underlying the reprogramming of the local tumor immune microenvironment and propose novel immunotherapy strategies that might have potential in harnessing and modulating immune system responses.

Keywords: cancer-associated fibroblasts; fibroblasts; heterogeneity; immunosuppression; reprogramming.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts*
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Immunity
  • Immunotherapy
  • Neoplasms*
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This publication was made possible by the generous support of the Qatar Foundation through Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar’s Seed Research Funding program as well as internal funds from the Biological Sciences Program. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the author(s).