The cholesterol efflux protein ABCA1 skews macrophages towards an anti-tumor phenotype and consequently impacts cancer progression

Bendre, Shruti Vijay

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132745 Copy

Description

Title

The cholesterol efflux protein ABCA1 skews macrophages towards an anti-tumor phenotype and consequently impacts cancer progression

Author(s)

Bendre, Shruti Vijay

Issue Date

2025-10-16

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Nelson, Erik

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Nelson, Erik

Committee Member(s)

• Tsai, Nien Pei
• Gaskins, Rex
• VanBortle, Kevin

Department of Study

Molecular & Integrative Physl

Discipline

Molecular & Integrative Physi

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

ABCA1, Cancer, Cholesterol, Immune therapy

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common and second-leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in women in the United States. The primary cause of mortality is often the recurrence of metastatic breast cancer. While immunotherapy shows some effectiveness, it has only been approved for patients who stain positive for PD-L1. Previous research in our lab has shown that macrophage function can be regulated through disruption in cholesterol metabolism. Additionally, elevated plasma cholesterol levels have been associated with breast cancer recurrence. These findings underscore the impact of cholesterol homeostasis in tumor-associated macrophages on breast cancer progression. An in-depth computational screen helped us pinpoint ABCA1—a cholesterol efflux protein whose elevated mRNA expression is linked to increased survival. In addition to efflux, ABCA1 can also translocate cholesterol from the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane to the outer layer. Highlighting the clinical importance of ABCA1 are our findings that increased ABCA1 levels within breast tumors correlate to an increase in cytotoxic T Cells, T cell effector enzymes (Prf-1 and Gzmb), and improved survival rates. Importantly, our in vitro studies suggest that ABCA1 influences several functions of macrophages relevant to tumor biology. Specifically, ABCA1 shifts macrophages towards an anti-cancer phenotype by (1) increasing their ability to infiltrate tumor spheroids, (2) decreasing angiogenesis, (3) decreasing efferocytosis—an immune-suppressive phagocytic process devoid of antigen presentation, and (4) enhancing the expansion, migration, and activity of cytotoxic T cells. The culmination of these attributes were demonstrated by our observations that syngeneic grafts of E0771 mammary tumors grew at an accelerated rate in mice with a myeloid-specific knockout of ABCA1 (ABCA1fl/fl;LysMcre+) compared to control mice. ABCA1 transports cholesterol from macrophages to a lipid-poor ApoA1 protein and facilitates the formation of nascent HDL via the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. We leveraged this mechanism to therapeutically target ABCA1 using ApoA1 mimetics 5A and 4F. Our data so far indicates that ApoA1 mimetics phenocopy ABCA1 overexpression skewing macrophages towards an anti-tumor phenotype. Importantly, treatment with 5A in mice grafted with 4T1 metastatic breast cancer cell line resulted in marked reduction in tumor burden. Additionally, we observed an increased infiltration of cytotoxic T cells and a decrease in CD31 expression, suggesting reduced blood vessel formation. Collectively, our data strongly supports the role of ABCA1 in the development of breast cancer. The expected results from this research will lay the groundwork for future therapeutic strategies for the use of ABCA1 and ApoA1 mimetics in the treatment of breast cancer.

Graduation Semester

2025-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132745

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Shruti Vijay Bendre

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