Th17, Th22, and Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Population Dynamics and Response to IL-6 in 4T1 Mammary Carcinoma

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2022-09, Vol.23 (18), p.10299
• Main Authors: Rasé, Viva J., Hayward, Reid, Haughian, James M., Pullen, Nicholas A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone marrow; Breast cancer; Cancer; CD4 antigen; CRISPR; Cytokines; Depletion; Genotype & phenotype; Helper cells; IL-22; Immune system; Immunology; Immunotherapy; Interleukin 6; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Mammary gland; MDSC; Metastasis; Myelopoiesis; Polarization; Population; Populations; Recruitment; Spleen; Suppressor cells; Tumors; type 3 immunity
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810299

Immunotherapies relying on type 1 immunity have shown robust clinical responses in some cancers yet remain relatively ineffective in solid breast tumors. Polarization toward type 2 immunity and expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) confer resistance to therapy, though it remains unclear whether polarization toward type 3 immunity occurs or has a similar effect. Therefore, we investigated the involvement of type 3 Th17 and Th22 cells and their association with expanding MDSC populations in the 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma model. Th17 and Th22 were detected in the earliest measurable mass at d 14 and remained present until the final sampling on d 28. In peripheral organs, Th17 populations were significantly higher than the non-tumor bearing control and peaked early at d 7, before a palpable tumor had formed. Peripheral Th22 proportions were also significantly increased, though at later times when tumors were established. To further address the mechanism underlying type 3 immune cell and MDSC recruitment, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out 4T1 tumor production of interleukin-6 (4T1-IL-6-KO), which functions in myelopoiesis, MDSC recruitment, and Th maturation. While 4T1-IL-6-KO tumor growth was similar to the control, the reduced IL-6 significantly expanded the total CD4+ Th population and Th17 in tumors, while Th22 and MDSC were reduced in all tissues; this suggests that clinical IL-6 depletion combined with immunotherapy could improve outcomes. In sum, 4T1 mammary carcinomas secrete IL-6 and other factors, to polarize and reshape Th populations and expand distinct Th17 and Th22 populations, which may facilitate tumor growth and confer immunotherapy resistance.