Table 1 CAF subtypes review
From: Metabolic and immune crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and pancreatic cancer cells
CAF subtype | Regulatory factors | Functional roles in tumor progression | References |
|---|---|---|---|
Myofibroblastic CAF (myCAF) | TGF-β, ARP2/3, FAK, mechanical stress, FKBP7 | ECM deposition, increased stiffness, immune exclusion, supports tumor growth | |
Inflammatory CAF (iCAF) | IL-1/JAK-STAT pathway, IL-6, mTOR signaling | Secretion of cytokines (IL-6, CXCL12), enhances invasion, immune suppression | |
Antigen-presenting CAF (apCAF) | IL-1, TGF-β, mesothelial transition | Antigen presentation without co-stimulation; induces CD4⁺ T cell anergy or Treg differentiation | |
Senescent CAF | Cellular senescence, SASP phenotype, PLAU | Strongly immunosuppressive, limits CD8⁺ T cell infiltration | |
LRRC15⁺ CAF | TGF-β-dependent | Directly suppresses CD8⁺ T cells, associated with immunotherapy resistance | |
CD105⁺ CAF | Adaptive immunity-dependent signals | Supports tumor growth; CD105⁻ CAF Anti-tumor effects | |
Endothelial-like CAF (endoCAF) | VEGF, CD144-β-catenin-STAT3 axis | Vascular mimicry, enhances tumor metastasis through paracrine signaling | |
Restraining CAF (rCAF) | Meflin | Anti-tumor activity, inhibits tumor progression | [56] |
MAPK-high CAF (mapCAF) | MAPK signaling, TGF-β, hypoxia response | Reduced basal-like tumor cells and CD8⁺ T cells infiltration, immunoregulatory | [57] |
FAPα⁺CD144⁺ endoCAF | CD144-β-catenin-STAT3 signaling axis | Promotes metastasis, supports vascular mimicry, tumor invasion | [58] |