The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system

Abstract Background ADAMTS2 is a metalloproteinase known to be implicated in collagen maturation and regulation of (lymph)angiogenesis. As these properties are likely to alter tumor progression, we aimed to assess the overall impact of ADAMTS2 on cancer development. Methods and results Using publicl...

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Main Authors: Loïc Joannes, Laura Dupont, Louis Stock, Esther Arpigny, Pascale Hubert, Marie Ancion, Margaux Luyckx, Joan Abinet, Wen Peng, Didier Calaldo, Agnes Noel, Thomas Marichal, Michael Herfs, Christophe Deroanne, Alain Colige
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03880-1
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author Loïc Joannes
Laura Dupont
Louis Stock
Esther Arpigny
Pascale Hubert
Marie Ancion
Margaux Luyckx
Joan Abinet
Wen Peng
Didier Calaldo
Agnes Noel
Thomas Marichal
Michael Herfs
Christophe Deroanne
Alain Colige
author_facet Loïc Joannes
Laura Dupont
Louis Stock
Esther Arpigny
Pascale Hubert
Marie Ancion
Margaux Luyckx
Joan Abinet
Wen Peng
Didier Calaldo
Agnes Noel
Thomas Marichal
Michael Herfs
Christophe Deroanne
Alain Colige
author_sort Loïc Joannes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background ADAMTS2 is a metalloproteinase known to be implicated in collagen maturation and regulation of (lymph)angiogenesis. As these properties are likely to alter tumor progression, we aimed to assess the overall impact of ADAMTS2 on cancer development. Methods and results Using publicly available human cancer datasets, we found that high expression of ADAMTS2 in primary tumors is associated with poor prognosis across various cancer types. Similar analyses were repeated, but this time using the ratio of ADAMTS2 on COL1A1 expression to take into account potential biases due to the involvement of ADAMTS2 in collagen fibril formation. Remarkably, these data indicate that patients with a high ADAMTS2/COL1A1 ratio exhibit an improved overall survival rate, suggesting that ADAMTS2 may inhibit cancer progression by a mechanism independent of collagen accumulation. This hypothesis was evaluated in vivo using ADAMTS2-KO mice and different tumor models characterized by the absence or presence of tumor collagen accumulation, as in MMTV-PyMT mice which develop spontaneous desmoplastic mammary tumors. In all the models, the growth of primary tumors was strongly increased in ADAMTS2-KO mice versus their wild type counterparts, confirming that ADAMTS2 displays anti-tumor properties. In stark contrast, the spread of lung metastases from mammary tumors was virtually prevented in ADAMTS2-KO mice, showing a dual role of ADAMTS2, either beneficial or detrimental, at different stages of cancer progression. Additional investigations, notably by FACS and single cell sequencing, showed that the effect of ADAMTS2 on primary tumors does not result from a direct effect on cancer cells, but rather from modifications in the intratumor innate immune system which becomes more immunosuppressive in the absence of ADAMTS2. Conclusion We have shown that ADAMTS2 suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting the progressive establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Conversely, its presence allows efficient formation of lung metastases. These data identify ADAMTS2 as a cancer regulator with antagonistic functions, limiting initial progression but promoting efficient metastatic dissemination.
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series Cancer Cell International
spelling doaj-art-475cf55d12bc45cab4abd75e7b6abf962025-08-20T03:27:18ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-06-0125111910.1186/s12935-025-03880-1The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune systemLoïc Joannes0Laura Dupont1Louis Stock2Esther Arpigny3Pascale Hubert4Marie Ancion5Margaux Luyckx6Joan Abinet7Wen Peng8Didier Calaldo9Agnes Noel10Thomas Marichal11Michael Herfs12Christophe Deroanne13Alain Colige14Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Immunophysiology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Immunophysiology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Immunophysiology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeLaboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA Institute, University of LiègeAbstract Background ADAMTS2 is a metalloproteinase known to be implicated in collagen maturation and regulation of (lymph)angiogenesis. As these properties are likely to alter tumor progression, we aimed to assess the overall impact of ADAMTS2 on cancer development. Methods and results Using publicly available human cancer datasets, we found that high expression of ADAMTS2 in primary tumors is associated with poor prognosis across various cancer types. Similar analyses were repeated, but this time using the ratio of ADAMTS2 on COL1A1 expression to take into account potential biases due to the involvement of ADAMTS2 in collagen fibril formation. Remarkably, these data indicate that patients with a high ADAMTS2/COL1A1 ratio exhibit an improved overall survival rate, suggesting that ADAMTS2 may inhibit cancer progression by a mechanism independent of collagen accumulation. This hypothesis was evaluated in vivo using ADAMTS2-KO mice and different tumor models characterized by the absence or presence of tumor collagen accumulation, as in MMTV-PyMT mice which develop spontaneous desmoplastic mammary tumors. In all the models, the growth of primary tumors was strongly increased in ADAMTS2-KO mice versus their wild type counterparts, confirming that ADAMTS2 displays anti-tumor properties. In stark contrast, the spread of lung metastases from mammary tumors was virtually prevented in ADAMTS2-KO mice, showing a dual role of ADAMTS2, either beneficial or detrimental, at different stages of cancer progression. Additional investigations, notably by FACS and single cell sequencing, showed that the effect of ADAMTS2 on primary tumors does not result from a direct effect on cancer cells, but rather from modifications in the intratumor innate immune system which becomes more immunosuppressive in the absence of ADAMTS2. Conclusion We have shown that ADAMTS2 suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting the progressive establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Conversely, its presence allows efficient formation of lung metastases. These data identify ADAMTS2 as a cancer regulator with antagonistic functions, limiting initial progression but promoting efficient metastatic dissemination.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03880-1ADAMTSIMMUNITYTumor micro-environment
spellingShingle Loïc Joannes
Laura Dupont
Louis Stock
Esther Arpigny
Pascale Hubert
Marie Ancion
Margaux Luyckx
Joan Abinet
Wen Peng
Didier Calaldo
Agnes Noel
Thomas Marichal
Michael Herfs
Christophe Deroanne
Alain Colige
The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system
Cancer Cell International
ADAMTS
IMMUNITY
Tumor micro-environment
title The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system
title_full The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system
title_fullStr The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system
title_full_unstemmed The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system
title_short The ADAMTS2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system
title_sort adamts2 metalloproteinase inhibits tumor growth by regulating the innate immune system
topic ADAMTS
IMMUNITY
Tumor micro-environment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03880-1
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