Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF). EndoTODAY 이준행

[Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)] - 終

Ping 2021 Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a group of activated fibroblasts with significant heterogeneity and plasticity in the tumor microenvironment. They secrete a variety of active factors to regulate tumor occurrence, development, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Although most studies suggest that CAFs have significant tumor-promoting functions, some evidence indicates that they may have certain tumor-suppressive functions in the early stage of tumors.

[Four populations of fibroblasts - James Goldenring, Vandervilt University (HUG2024)]

Our recent investigations in human stomachs from gastric cancer resections have defined four populations of fibroblasts in the normal and pathological stomach.

Telocyte-like fibroblasts expressing PDGFRA
Inflammatory fibroblasts expressing FBLN2
Myofibroblasts expressing high levels of ACTA2
Pericytes expressing PDGFRB and lower levels of ACTA2

Telocyte-like fibroblasts were mainly located in the isthmus in the inflamed normal corpus but expanded throughout the entire metaplastic gland in close proximity with the metaplastic lineage. This subset in dysplastic or cancerous tissue also surrounded the epithelial compartment, but showed a more disorganized pattern. Similar assocation of telecytes with metaplastic lineages was demonstrated in mouse models of SPEM induction and in FoxL1 reporter mice. Expansion of inflammatory fibroblasts appeared at the base of inflamed or metaplastic mucosa associated with lymphoid aggregation. Inflammatory fibroblasts were interspersed between metaplastic glands. Myofibroblasts were present throughout the normal and pathological gastric mucosa without specific association with metaplasia.

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