IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanoma

Background Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) play a major role in the immunosuppressive melanoma microenvironment. They are generated under chronic inflammatory conditions characterized by the constant production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, including IL-6. Recruit...

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Main Authors: Xiaoying Hu, Viktor Umansky, Peter Altevogt, Jochen S Utikal, Alina Siebenmorgen, Christopher Groth, Carsten Sticht, Rebekka Weber, Zeno Riester, Laura Hüser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-10-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e000949.full
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author Xiaoying Hu
Viktor Umansky
Peter Altevogt
Jochen S Utikal
Alina Siebenmorgen
Christopher Groth
Carsten Sticht
Rebekka Weber
Zeno Riester
Laura Hüser
author_facet Xiaoying Hu
Viktor Umansky
Peter Altevogt
Jochen S Utikal
Alina Siebenmorgen
Christopher Groth
Carsten Sticht
Rebekka Weber
Zeno Riester
Laura Hüser
author_sort Xiaoying Hu
collection DOAJ
description Background Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) play a major role in the immunosuppressive melanoma microenvironment. They are generated under chronic inflammatory conditions characterized by the constant production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, including IL-6. Recruitment of MDSC to the tumor is mediated by the interaction between chemokines and chemokine receptors, in particular C–C chemokine receptor (CCR)5. Here, we studied the mechanisms of CCR5 upregulation and increased immunosuppressive function of CCR5+ MDSC.Methods The immortalized myeloid suppressor cell line MSC-2, primary immature myeloid cells and in vitro differentiated MDSC were used to determine factors and molecular mechanisms regulating CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive markers at the mRNA and protein levels. The relevance of the identified pathways was validated on the RET transgenic mouse melanoma model, which was also used to target the identified pathways in vivo.Results IL-6 upregulated the expression of CCR5 and arginase 1 in MDSC by a STAT3-dependent mechanism. MDSC differentiated in the presence of IL-6 strongly inhibited CD8+ T cell functions compared with MDSC differentiated without IL-6. A correlation between IL-6 levels, phosphorylated STAT3 and CCR5 expression in tumor-infiltrating MDSC was demonstrated in the RET transgenic melanoma mouse model. Surprisingly, IL-6 overexpressing tumors grew significantly slower in mice accompanied by CD8+ T cell activation. Moreover, transgenic melanoma-bearing mice treated with IL-6 blocking antibodies showed significantly accelerated tumor development.Conclusion Our in vitro and ex vivo findings demonstrated that IL-6 induced CCR5 expression and a strong immunosuppressive activity of MDSC, highlighting this cytokine as a promising target for melanoma immunotherapy. However, IL-6 blocking therapy did not prove to be effective in RET transgenic melanoma-bearing mice but rather aggravated tumor progression. Further studies are needed to identify particular combination therapies, cancer entities or patient subsets to benefit from the anti-IL-6 treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-48e2cf9f67dd4d2da4529d810db2b47c2024-11-10T19:00:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262020-10-018210.1136/jitc-2020-000949IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanomaXiaoying Hu0Viktor Umansky1Peter Altevogt2Jochen S Utikal3Alina Siebenmorgen4Christopher Groth5Carsten Sticht6Rebekka Weber7Zeno Riester8Laura Hüser9Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Centre, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, GermanyMannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyMannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, GermanyDeutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, GermanySkin Cancer Unit/ Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg, Mannheim, GermanySkin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, GermanyHeidelberg University, Germany1 Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg and Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany1 Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg and Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany1 Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg and Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyBackground Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) play a major role in the immunosuppressive melanoma microenvironment. They are generated under chronic inflammatory conditions characterized by the constant production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, including IL-6. Recruitment of MDSC to the tumor is mediated by the interaction between chemokines and chemokine receptors, in particular C–C chemokine receptor (CCR)5. Here, we studied the mechanisms of CCR5 upregulation and increased immunosuppressive function of CCR5+ MDSC.Methods The immortalized myeloid suppressor cell line MSC-2, primary immature myeloid cells and in vitro differentiated MDSC were used to determine factors and molecular mechanisms regulating CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive markers at the mRNA and protein levels. The relevance of the identified pathways was validated on the RET transgenic mouse melanoma model, which was also used to target the identified pathways in vivo.Results IL-6 upregulated the expression of CCR5 and arginase 1 in MDSC by a STAT3-dependent mechanism. MDSC differentiated in the presence of IL-6 strongly inhibited CD8+ T cell functions compared with MDSC differentiated without IL-6. A correlation between IL-6 levels, phosphorylated STAT3 and CCR5 expression in tumor-infiltrating MDSC was demonstrated in the RET transgenic melanoma mouse model. Surprisingly, IL-6 overexpressing tumors grew significantly slower in mice accompanied by CD8+ T cell activation. Moreover, transgenic melanoma-bearing mice treated with IL-6 blocking antibodies showed significantly accelerated tumor development.Conclusion Our in vitro and ex vivo findings demonstrated that IL-6 induced CCR5 expression and a strong immunosuppressive activity of MDSC, highlighting this cytokine as a promising target for melanoma immunotherapy. However, IL-6 blocking therapy did not prove to be effective in RET transgenic melanoma-bearing mice but rather aggravated tumor progression. Further studies are needed to identify particular combination therapies, cancer entities or patient subsets to benefit from the anti-IL-6 treatment.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e000949.full
spellingShingle Xiaoying Hu
Viktor Umansky
Peter Altevogt
Jochen S Utikal
Alina Siebenmorgen
Christopher Groth
Carsten Sticht
Rebekka Weber
Zeno Riester
Laura Hüser
IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanoma
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanoma
title_full IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanoma
title_fullStr IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanoma
title_full_unstemmed IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanoma
title_short IL-6 regulates CCR5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of MDSC in murine melanoma
title_sort il 6 regulates ccr5 expression and immunosuppressive capacity of mdsc in murine melanoma
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e000949.full
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