In colorectal cancer, IL-1R signaling has emerged as a key player in shaping the tumor microenvironment, influencing both tumor progression and the body's immune response. Understanding the precise mechanisms by which IL-1R signaling affects cancer development and progression is critical for developing targeted therapies that can modulate this pathway for better clinical outcomes.
A recent study from Sven Wehner’s group in Bonn and Gianluca Matteoli’s group from KU Leuven, Belgium, published in Nature Communications, explores the critical role of IL-1R signaling in enteric glia and their interaction with macrophages in colorectal cancer. This collaborative research discovered that IL-1R signaling in enteric glia is pivotal in promoting a pro-tumorigenic macrophage subtype. By investigating the crosstalk between enteric glial cells and immune cells, the study provides new insights into the tumor microenvironment and highlights potential therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer treatment