30th October 2025
15:30-16:15 (CET)
Dr. Francesco Acquati
University of Insubria
16:15-17:00 (CET)
Dr. Frank Hernández
Linköping University & TECNUN- Universidad de Navarra
Time: 15:30-16:15_Dr. Francesco Acquati
Human RNASET2 as a highly pleiotropic tumor suppressive alarmin
- The human RNASET2 gene has been consistently reported to act as a tumor suppressor gene in several in vitro and in vivo experimental models of cancer. This gene encodes for an evolutionarily conserved and highly pleiotropic extracellular ribonuclease displaying both cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous oncosuppressive activities. In particular, RNASET2 secretion by cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment was shown to trigger tumor suppression by means of recruitment of innate immune response cells endowed with oncoppressive roles (M1-polarized macrophages). These data support a role for RNASET2 acting as an alarmin-like molecule in vivo to trigger an innate immune response against cancer cells. Such non cell-autonomous role was recently investigated and validated in vitro in two human macrophages experimental models. Furthermore, in vitro cell culture systems have also unveiled a concomitant, cell-autonomous function of RNASET2 in stress-related tumor suppression, which turned out to represent an evolutionary conserved feature of this member of the transferase-type RNase family.
- Taken together, these data strongly support the role of T2 RNases as an evolutionary conserved stress-response oncosuppressor protein involved in host defense, which likely represents just one of the multifaceted biological functions carried out by this extremely ancient class of ribonucleases.
Time: 16:15-17:00_Dr. Frank Hernández
RNases, Immunity, and the Tumor Microenvironment
- Ribonucleases (RNases) are no longer viewed merely as degradative enzymes but as key mediators of immune activation across diverse human conditions, including cancer. Building upon their evolutionary role in host defense, RNases have emerged as regulators of extracellular RNA turnover and modulators of inflammation within the tumor microenvironment. In this presentation, we will discuss how the concept of nuclease activity as a functional biomarker, previously demonstrated in cancer diagnostics, extends into the immunological landscape of tumors.
- Recent work has revealed that RNases released by immune cells, particularly neutrophils, can shape local immune activation through the generation of short RNA fragments that act as immunostimulatory signals. Together, these findings support a new perspective of RNases as enzymatic indicators and active players in the immune surveillance of cancer.
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30th October 2025