Macrophage ABHD5 suppresses NF-κB-dependent matrix metalloproteinase expression and cancer metastasis

Metabolic reprogramming in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is associated with cancer development, however, the role of macrophage triglyceride metabolism in cancer metastasis is unclear. Here, we showed that TAMs exhibit heterogeneous expression of abhydrolase domain containing 5 (ABHD5), an activator of triglyceride hydrolysis, with migratory TAMs expressing lower levels of ABHD5 compared to the non-migratory TAMs. ABHD5 expression in macrophages inhibited cancer cell migration in vitro, in xenograft models and in genetic cancer models. The effects of macrophage ABHD5 on cancer cell migration were dissociated from its metabolic function as neither triglycerides nor ABHD5-regulated metabolites from macrophages affected cancer cell migration. Instead, ABHD5 deficiency in migrating macrophages promoted NF-κB p65-dependent production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). ABHD5 expression negatively correlated with MMP expression in TAMs and was associated with better survival in colorectal cancer patients. Taken together, our findings show that macrophage ABHD5 suppresses NF-κB-dependent MMP production and cancer metastasis and may serve as a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer.