Hypoxia induces inflammatory microenvironment by priming specific macrophage polarization and modifies LSC behaviour via VEGF-HIF1α signalling

Abstract

To our best knowledge, this is the first study that focus to explore molecule players and interacting signal pathways regulating LSC biology under hypoxic exposure. It reveals that hypoxia preferentially skew macrophage M2 polarization with specific cytokine profile and proinflammatory microenvironment, which impacts malignant behavior of LSCs. VEGF-HIF-1α interaction is closely implicated in sustaining LSCs survival under hypoxic exposure and might be of potential target of novel therapy.