The increased IL-17-producing γδT cells promote tumor cell proliferation and migration in neuroblastoma

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2020-02, Vol.211, p.108343-108343, Article 108343
• Main Authors: Zhang, Hui, Chai, Wenjia, Yang, Wei, Han, Wei, Mou, Wenjun, Xi, Yue, Chen, Xi, Wang, Hui, Wang, Wei, Qin, Hong, Wang, Huanmin, Ma, Xiaoli, Wang, Xiaolin, Gui, Jingang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: IL-17-producing γδT cells; Migration; Neuroblastoma; Proliferation
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108343

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common solid extracranial malignancy in children with a considerable chance of metastatic progression. Prevalent evidence supports the anti-tumor role of γδT cells and these cells have been testing in clinical trials for constraining tumor growth. A small subpopulation of γδT cells releasing IL-17, however, were demonstrated to exert tumor-promoting effects in many aspects. In this study, we found an augment of IL-17+ γδT cells both in in vitro PAM-stimulated γδT-cell expanding culture and circulating γδT cells in NB patients. These patient-origin cells expanded in vitro by PAM in the presence of IL-17 polarizing condition were shown to promote the proliferation and migration of NB cells. Furthermore, an intrinsic preference for IL-17 polarization in NB γδT cells was revealed by mRNA microarray and Western Blot, which pointed to an up-regulated expression of multiple Th17-development related genes in addition to an increased phosphorylation level of STAT3.