C-type lectins are pattern-recognition receptors important for pathogen binding and uptake by APCs. Evidence is accumulating that integration of incoming cellular signals in APCs is regulated by grouping of receptors and signaling molecules into organized membrane complexes, such as lipid rafts and tetraspanin microdomains. In this study, we demonstrate that C-type lectin dectin-1 functionally interacts with leukocyte-specific tetraspanin CD37. Dectin-1 and CD37 colocalize on the surface of human APCs. Importantly, macrophages of CD37-deficient (CD37^−/−) mice express decreased dectin-1 membrane levels, due to increased dectin-1 internalization. Furthermore, transfection of CD37 into a macrophage cell line elevated endogenous dectin-1 surface expression. Although CD37 deficiency does not affect dectin-1-mediated phagocytosis, we observed a striking 10-fold increase of dectin-1-induced IL-6 production in CD37^−/− macrophages compared with wild-type cells, despite reduced dectin-1 cell surface expression. Importantly, the observed increase in IL-6 production was specific for dectin-1, because signaling via other pattern-recognition receptors was unaffected in CD37^−/− macrophages and because the dectin-1 ligand curdlan was used. Taken together, these findings show that tetraspanin CD37 is important for dectin-1 stabilization in APC membranes and controls dectin-1-mediated IL-6 production.

Tumor growth is not only dictated by events involving tumor cells, but also by the environment they reside in, the so-called tumor microenvironment (TME). In the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are often the predominant cell type. CAFs were long considered to be of limited importance in the TME, but are now recognized for their pivotal role in cancer progression. Recently, it has become evident that different subsets of CAFs exist, with certain CAF subtypes having protumorigenic properties, whereas others show more antitumorigenic characteristics. Currently, the intricate interaction between the different subsets of CAFs with tumor cells, but also with immune cells that reside in the TME, is still poorly understood. This crosstalk of CAFs with tumor and immune cells in the TME largely dictates how a tumor responds to therapy and whether the tumor will eventually be eliminated, stay dormant or will progress and metastasize. Radiotherapy (RT) is a widely used and mostly very effective local cancer treatment, but CAFs are remarkably RT resistant. Although radiation does cause persistent DNA damage, CAFs do not die upon clinically applied doses of RT, but rather become senescent. Through the secretion of cytokines and growth factors they have been implicated in the induction of tumor radioresistance and recruitment of specific immune cells to the TME, thereby affecting local immune responses. In this review we will discuss the versatile role of CAFs in the TME and their influence on RT response.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a group of genotypically non-malignant stromal cells in the tumor micro-environment (TME) of solid tumors that encompasses up to 80% of the tumor volume. Even though the phenotypic diversity and plasticity of CAFs complicates research, it is well-established that CAFs can affect many aspects of tumor progression, including growth, invasion and therapy resistance. Although anti-tumorigenic properties of CAFs have been reported, the majority of research demonstrates a pro-tumorigenic role for CAFs via (in)direct signaling to cancer cells, immunomodulation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Following harsh therapeutic approaches such as radio- and/or chemotherapy, CAFs do not die but rather become senescent. Upon conversion towards senescence, many pro-tumorigenic characteristics of CAFs are preserved or even amplified. Senescent CAFs continue to promote tumor cell therapy resistance, modulate the ECM, stimulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and induce immunosuppression. Consequently, CAFs play a significant role in tumor cell survival, relapse and potentially malignant transformation of surviving cancer cells following therapy. Modulating CAF functioning in the TME therefore is a critical area of research. Proposed strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy include reverting senescent CAFs towards a quiescent phenotype or selectively targeting (non-)senescent CAFs. In this review, we discuss CAF functioning in the TME before and during therapy, with a strong focus on radiotherapy. In the future, CAF functioning in the therapeutic TME should be taken into account when designing treatment plans and new therapeutic approaches.

In the last decade, organoid technology has developed as a primary research tool in basic biological and clinical research. The reliance on poorly defined animal‐derived extracellular matrix, however, severely limits its application in regenerative and translational medicine. Here, a well‐defined, synthetic biomimetic matrix based on polyisocyanide (PIC) hydrogels that support efficient and reproducible formation of mammary gland organoids (MGOs) in vitro is presented. Only decorated with the adhesive peptide RGD for cell binding, PIC hydrogels allow MGO formation from mammary fragments or from purified single mammary epithelial cells. The cystic organoids maintain their capacity to branch for over two months, which is a fundamental and complex feature during mammary gland development. It is found that small variations in the 3D matrix give rise to large changes in the MGO: the ratio of the main cell types in the MGO is controlled by the cell–gel interactions via the cell binding peptide density, whereas gel stiffness controls colony formation efficiency, which is indicative of the progenitor density. Simple hydrogel modifications will allow for future introduction and customization of new biophysical and biochemical parameters, making the PIC platform an ideal matrix for in depth studies into organ development and for application in disease models.