2. Academic Validation
  3. Aspergillus fumigatus promotes tumor angiogenesis via SLC7A11 on myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Aspergillus fumigatus promotes tumor angiogenesis via SLC7A11 on myeloid-derived suppressor cells

  • EMBO Rep. 2025 Dec;26(24):6266-6291. doi: 10.1038/s44319-025-00627-x.
Wei Qu 1 2,  Zelin Wang 1 2,  Tianchen Zhu 1 2,  Huiyue Cui 1 2,  Ziqian Bing 1 2,  Sunan Shen 1 2,  Yi Shen 3,  Shaorong Yu 4,  Hongqin Zhuang 5,  Tingting Wang 6 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School & School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
  • 2 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
  • 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China. [email protected].
  • 4 Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China. [email protected].
  • 5 State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School & School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China. [email protected].
  • 6 State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School & School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China. [email protected].
  • 7 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China. [email protected].
PMID: 41249582 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-025-00627-x
Abstract

The microbiome is increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in lung Cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. While bacteria are essential for tumor angiogenesis, the impact of fungi on this process remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigate effects of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) on lung Cancer. We show that inhalation of A. fumigatus increases tumor burden and angiogenesis in mouse models. Interestingly, A. fumigatus does not directly affect the proangiogenic abilities of tumor cells or endothelial cells. Instead, A. fumigatus promotes the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), particularly G-MDSCs, in tumor tissues. A. fumigatus increases VEGF-A secretion from tumor-associated MDSCs, promoting tumor angiogenesis. Furthermore, we identify solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) as a key player in regulating this proangiogenic function through an interaction with High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) in MDSCs. Our results shed light on the mechanisms by which A. fumigatus influences MDSCs to promote angiogenesis and demonstrate that commensal fungi influence host immunity and support tumor progression.

Keywords

Aspergillus fumigatus; Angiogenesis; Lung Cancer; MDSCs.

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