The CCR2(+) Macrophage Subset Promotes Pathogenic Angiogenesis for Tumor Vascularization in Fibrotic Livers

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically arises in fibrotic or cirrhotic livers, which are characterized by pathogenic angiogenesis. Myeloid immune cells, specifically tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), may represent potential novel therapeutic targets in HCC, complementing current ablative or immune therapies. However, the detailed functions of TAM subsets in hepatocarcinogenesis have remained obscure. METHODS: TAM subsets were analyzed in-depth in human HCC samples and a combined fibrosis–HCC mouse model, established by i.p. injection with diethylnitrosamine after birth and repetitive carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) treatment for 16 weeks. Based on comprehensively phenotyping TAM subsets (fluorescence-activated cell sorter, transcriptomics) in mice, the function of CCR2(+) TAM was assessed by a pharmacologic chemokine inhibitor. Angiogenesis was evaluated by contrast-enhanced micro–computed tomography and histology. RESULTS: We show that human CCR2(+) TAM accumulate at the highly vascularized HCC border and express the inflammatory marker S100A9, whereas CD163(+) immune-suppressive TAM accrue in the HCC center. In the fibrosis–cancer mouse model, we identified 3 major hepatic myeloid cell populations with distinct messenger RNA profiles, of which CCR2(+) TAM particularly showed activated inflammatory and angiogenic pathways. Inhibiting CCR2(+) TAM infiltration using a pharmacologic chemokine CCL2 antagonist in the fibrosis–HCC model significantly reduced pathogenic vascularization and hepatic blood volume, alongside attenuated tumor volume. CONCLUSIONS: The HCC microenvironment in human patients and mice is characterized by functionally distinct macrophage populations, of which the CCR2(+) inflammatory TAM subset has pro-angiogenic properties. Understanding the functional differentiation of myeloid cell subsets in chronically inflamed liver may provide novel opportunities for modulating hepatic macrophages to inhibit tumor-promoting pathogenic angiogenesis.