Myeloid-derived suppressor cells control B cell accumulation in the central nervous system during autoimmunity

Nat Immunol. 2018 Dec;19(12):1341-1351. doi: 10.1038/s41590-018-0237-5. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Abstract

Polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) have been characterized in the context of malignancies. Here we show that PMN-MDSCs can restrain B cell accumulation during central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. Ly6G+ cells were recruited to the CNS during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), interacted with B cells that produced the cytokines GM-CSF and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and acquired properties of PMN-MDSCs in the CNS in a manner dependent on the signal transducer STAT3. Depletion of Ly6G+ cells or dysfunction of Ly6G+ cells through conditional ablation of STAT3 led to the selective accumulation of GM-CSF-producing B cells in the CNS compartment, which in turn promoted an activated microglial phenotype and lack of recovery from EAE. The frequency of CD138+ B cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of human subjects with multiple sclerosis was negatively correlated with the frequency of PMN-MDSCs in the CSF. Thus PMN-MDSCs might selectively control the accumulation and cytokine secretion of B cells in the inflamed CNS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Autoimmunity / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Central Nervous System / immunology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / immunology*
  • Young Adult