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Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) on the invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the infiltration of TAMs in cervical lesions. The human mononuclear THP1 cell line was induced to transform into M2 type TAMs in vitro. TAMs were used to stimulate cervical cancer cells (SiHa and C33a). Scratch and Transwell assays were used to detect the effect of TAMs on the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cell lines. Western blot was used to detect the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the expression of MMP-9 in cervical cancer cells. Results The number of TAM infiltration was positively correlated with the progression of cervical lesions. After stimulated by TAMs-CM, SiHa and C33a cells appeared interstitial-like changes, and the migration and invasion abilities were significantly enhanced (both P < 0.5). TAMs could down-regulate the expression of E-Cadherin, and up-regulate the expression of N-Cadherin, Vimentin and MMP-9. Conclusion The invasion of TAMs is closely related to the malignant transformation and progression of cervical epithelium. TAMs may promote the invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer cells by up-regulating the expression of MMP-9.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the development of high risk human papilloma virus (hr-HPV)-related cervical cancer., Methods: A total of 112 cases of cervical tissue were collected, including 16 normal cervical tissues, 55 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) tissues and 41 squamous cervical cancer (SCC) tissues. The expression of CD163 + macrophages in the cervical tissues was detected by immunohistochemical method, and the results were analyzed in relation with the clinical data of the patients., Results: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the cell density of CD163 + macrophages increased progressively with the increase in the tissue malignancy, in the order of normal cervical tissue, CIN Ⅰ, CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ, and SCC. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between CD163 + macrophage density and tissue malignancy ( P =0.000). The density of CD163 + macrophages was significantly upregulated in HR-HPV-positive SCC tissue ( P < 0.05). CD163 + macrophages were positively correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis ( P =0.005) and FIGO stage ( P =0.004) of SCC., Conclusions: The expression of CD163 + macrophages is positively correlated with malignant transformation of cervical tissues, and hr-HPV infection is significantly correlated with CD163 expression level in the macrophages. CD163 + macrophages can be used as predictors of the occurrence and progression of cervical cancer caused by hr-HPV infection.