CCL2 and Interleukin-6 Promote Survival of Human CD11b+ Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Induce M2-type Macrophage Polarization

CCL2 and interleukin (IL)-6 are among the most prevalent cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, with expression generally correlating with tumor progression and metastasis. CCL2 and IL-6 induced expression of each other in CD11b⁺ cells isolated from human peripheral blood. It was demonstrated that both cytokines induce up-regulation of the antiapoptotic proteins cFLIP_L (cellular caspase-8 (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein), Bcl-2, and Bcl-X_L and inhibit the cleavage of caspase-8 and subsequent activation of the caspase-cascade, thus protecting cells from apoptosis under serum deprivation stress. Furthermore, both cytokines induced hyperactivation of autophagy in these cells. Upon CCL2 or IL-6 stimulation, CD11b⁺ cells demonstrated a significant increase in the mannose receptor (CD206) and the CD14⁺/CD206⁺ double-positive cells, suggesting a polarization of macrophages toward the CD206⁺ M2-type phenotype. Caspase-8 inhibitors mimicked the cytokine-induced up-regulation of autophagy and M2 polarization. Furthermore, E64D and leupeptin, which are able to function as inhibitors of autophagic degradation, reversed the effect of caspase-8 inhibitors in the M2-macrophage polarization, indicating a role of autophagy in this mechanism. Additionally, in patients with advanced castrate-resistant prostate cancer, metastatic lesions exhibited an increased CD14⁺/CD206⁺ double-positive cell population compared with normal tissues. Altogether, these findings suggest a role for CCL2 and IL-6 in the survival of myeloid monocytes recruited to the tumor microenvironment and their differentiation toward tumor-promoting M2-type macrophages via inhibition of caspase-8 cleavage and enhanced autophagy.