No abstract

Neutrophils and polymorphonucler myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC) share origin and many morphological and phenotypic features. However, they have different biological role. Neutrophils are one of the major mechanisms of protection against invading pathogens, whereas PMN-MDSC have immune suppressive activity and restrict immune responses in cancer, chronic infectious disease, trauma, sepsis, and many other pathological conditions. Although in healthy adult individuals, PMN-MDSC are not or barely detectable, in patients with cancer and many other diseases they accumulate at various degree and co-exist with neutrophils. Recent advances allow for better distinction of these cells and better understanding of their biological role. Accumulating evidence indicates PMN-MDSC as pathologically activated neutrophils, with important role in regulation of immune responses. In this review, we provide an overview on the definition and characterization of PMN-MDSC and neutrophils, their pathological significance in a variety of diseases, and their interaction with other stromal components.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are pathologically activated and relatively immature myeloid cells, which are implicated in the immune regulation of many pathologic conditions1,2. Phenotypically and morphologically MDSC are similar to neutrophils (PMN-MDSC) and monocytes (M-MDSC). However, they have potent suppressive activity, a distinct gene expression profile, and biochemical characteristics3. None or very few MDSC are observed in steady state physiological conditions. Therefore, until recently, accumulation of MDSC was considered as a consequence of pathological process or pregnancy. Here, we report that MDSC with a potent ability to suppress T cells are present during the first weeks of life in mice and humans. MDSC suppressive activity was triggered by lactoferrin and mediated by nitric oxide, PGE2, and S100A9/A8 proteins. Newborn MDSC had a transcriptome similar to that of tumor MDSC, but with a strong up-regulation of an antimicrobial gene network and had potent antibacterial activity. MDSC played a critical role in control of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in newborn mice. MDSC in infants with very low-weight, which are prone to the development of NEC, had lower MDSC levels and suppressive activity than infants with normal weight. Thus, the transitory presence of MDSC may be critical for regulation of inflammation in newborns.

Although neutrophils have been linked to the formation of the pre-metastatic niche, the mechanism of their migration to distant uninvolved tissues has remained elusive. We report that bone marrow neutrophils from mice with early-stage cancers exhibited much more spontaneous migration to tissues. These cells lacked immunosuppressive activity but had elevated rates of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, and much more production of ATP. Their enhanced spontaneous migration was mediated by the binding of ATP to purinergic receptors. In ectopic tumor models and the late stages of cancers, bone marrow neutrophils demonstrated potent immunosuppressive activity. However, these cells had metabolic and migratory activity indistinguishable from that of control neutrophils. A similar pattern of migration was observed in neutrophils and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells from patients with cancer. These results elucidate the dynamic changes that neutrophils undergo in cancer and demonstrate the mechanism of neutrophils’ contribution to early tumor dissemination.

Our study reveals a significant correlation between MDSC levels with HCV disease progression, and their response to antiviral therapy. The arginase-1-dependent mechanism of MDSCs from CHC patients indicates that arginase-1 may be promising target for HCV immunotherapy.

Our results suggest that MMP-9 is a potential prognostic factor for ovarian cancer and could be a novel treatment target in ovarian cancer patients.

Reciprocal relationship usually exists between osteoblastogenesis and adipogenesis, with factors stimulating one of these processes at the same time inhibiting the other. In the present study, miR-30e was found to be involved in the reciprocal regulation of osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. Our data indicated that miR-30e was induced in primarily cultured mouse bone marrow stromal cell, mesenchymal cell line C3H10T1/2 and preadipocyte 3T3-L1 after adipogenic treatment. Conversely, it was reduced in mouse stromal line ST2 and preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 after osteogenic treatment. Enforced expression of miR-30e in 3T3-L1 significantly suppressed the growth of the cells and induced the preadipocytes to differentiate into mature adipocytes, along with increased expression of adipocyte-specific transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) and C/EBPβ, and the marker gene aP2. In contrast, inhibition of the endogenous miR-30e enhanced the cell growth and repressed preadipocytes to differentiate. Conversely, supplementing miR-30e activity blocked, whereas knocking down miR-30e enforced the preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 to fully differentiate. Furthermore, miR-30e overexpression stimulated adipocyte formation and inhibited osteoblast differentiation from marrow stromal cells. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), one of the critical coreceptor for Wnts, was shown to be a direct target of miR-30e by using the luciferase assay. Knockdown of LRP6 in 3T3-L1 cells downregulated β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF) transcriptional activity and dramatically potentiated the differentiation of the cells into mature adipocytes. Taken together, the present work suggests that the expression of miR-30e is indispensable for maintaining the balance of adipocytes and osteoblasts by targeting the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Several miRNAs have recently been identified to regulate adipocyte or osteoblast differentiation or both. In this study, miR-223 was found to be involved in the reciprocal regulation of adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation. miR-223 was induced in primary cultured mouse marrow stromal cell, mesenchymal line C3H10T1/2 and stromal line ST2 after adipogenic treatment. Conversely, it was reduced in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 after osteogenic treatment. Supplementing miR-223 levels using synthetic miR-223 mimics significantly suppressed the growth of the C3H10T1/2 and ST2 cells and induced the progenitor cells to fully differentiate into adipocytes, along with induction of adipocyte-specific transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor c, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-a (C/EBPa), and marker genes aP2 and adipsin. By contrast, depletion of the endogenous miR-223 using synthetic miR-223 inhibitor repressed the progenitor cells to differentiate. The effects of miR-223 on adipocyte formation from ST2 cells were also demonstrated by using lentivirus that overexpresses miR-223. Conversely, supplementing miR-223 blocked ST2 to differentiate into osteoblasts. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (Fgfr2), a critical regulator of osteoblast, was shown to be a direct target of miR-223 by using dual luciferase reporter assay. Knockdown of Fgfr2 in C3H10T1/2 downregulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and upregulated expression of C/EBPa and dramatically enhanced the differentiation of the cells into adipocytes. Further investigation of mechanisms that control miR-223 expression demonstrated that C/EBPs induced miR-223 expression through binding to the promoter regions of the miR-223. Taken together, our study provides evidences that miR-223 regulates adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation through a novel C/EBPs/miR-223/FGFR2 regulatory feedback loop. STEM CELLS 2015;33:1589-1600