The tumour microenvironment creates a niche for the self-renewal of tumour-promoting macrophages in colon adenoma

Circulating CCR2 + monocytes are crucial for maintaining the adult tissue-resident F4/80 hi MHCII hi macrophage pool in the intestinal lamina propria. Here we show that a subpopulation of CCR2-independent F4/80 hi MHCII low macrophages, which are the most abundant F4/80 hi cells in neonates, gradually decline in number in adulthood; these macrophages likely represent the fetal contribution to F4/80 hi cells. In colon adenomas of Apc Min/+ mice, F4/80 hi MHCII low macrophages are not only preserved, but become the dominant subpopulation among tumour-resident macrophages during tumour progression. Furthermore, these pro-tumoural F4/80 hi MHCII low and F4/80 hi MHCII hi macrophages can self-renew in the tumour and maintain their numbers mostly independent from bone marrow contribution. Analyses of colon adenomas indicate that CSF1 may be a key facilitator of macrophage self-renewal. In summary, the tumour microenvironment creates an isolated niche for tissue-resident macrophages that favours macrophage survival and self-renewal.