Fig. 4

Role of lncRNAs in crosstalk between macrophages and tumor. a LncRNAs regulate M1/M2 macrophage polarization through miRNA-mediated alterations in the expression of downstream target proteins. b LncRNAs modulate the protein secretion of TAMs and affect the survival and metastasis of tumor cells. c TAMs can also influence the malignant behaviors of tumor cells by exosomes rich in specific lncRNA. d Macrophages phagocytose and internalize tumor-secreted proteins or tumor-derived exosomes rich in lncRNAs with regulatory function and thus induce macrophage polarization. e LncRNAs are involved in macrophage recruitment from circulating monocytes by regulating the production of secreted proteins, and in turn induce the polarization of macrophages into TAMs in the TME