Investigation of CD40L VLPs role in the M1/M2 macrophage polarization and antitumoral activity.

• Grant number: 23/18463-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Marcio Chaim Bajgelman
• Grantee: Thiago Luiz Rocha Natividade
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Previos data of our group show the possibility to engineer immunomodulator VLPs with the capacity to potentialize antitumor imumne response. These VLPs derive from retroviral capsides and are encrusted with anchored proteins in the particle surface. We observed that VLPs containing the CD40 ligand, CD40L, activate presenting cells and potencialize the antitumoral immune reponse in animals challenged with tumors and treated with VLPs. The macrophages are fagocitic cells spread throughout the organism and have a high potencial of antigen presentation. These cells can present an immunosuppressant profile, known as M2, or an pró-inflammatory profile, known as M1, inducing antitumoral activity. CD40 signaling plays a central role in the activation and polarization of macrophages to M1 phenotype. In this context, we plan to explore the immunomodulatory role of CD40L-VLP related to the repolarization of intratumoral M2 macrophages into an antitumoral M1 profile, through in vitro tests and gene expression analysis using quantitative PCR. The results of this project may contribute to improving our understanding of the functionality of immunomodulatory VLPs developed by our research group.