Cancer Stem Cell-Secreted Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Stimulates Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cell Function and Facilitates Glioblastoma Immune Evasion

Stem Cells. 2016 Aug;34(8):2026-39. doi: 10.1002/stem.2393. Epub 2016 May 27.

Abstract

Shifting the balance away from tumor-mediated immune suppression toward tumor immune rejection is the conceptual foundation for a variety of immunotherapy efforts currently being tested. These efforts largely focus on activating antitumor immune responses but are confounded by multiple immune cell populations, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which serve to suppress immune system function. We have identified immune-suppressive MDSCs in the brains of GBM patients and found that they were in close proximity to self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs). MDSCs were selectively depleted using 5-flurouracil (5-FU) in a low-dose administration paradigm, which resulted in prolonged survival in a syngeneic mouse model of glioma. In coculture studies, patient-derived CSCs but not nonstem tumor cells selectively drove MDSC-mediated immune suppression. A cytokine screen revealed that CSCs secreted multiple factors that promoted this activity, including macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which was produced at high levels by CSCs. Addition of MIF increased production of the immune-suppressive enzyme arginase-1 in MDSCs in a CXCR2-dependent manner, whereas blocking MIF reduced arginase-1 production. Similarly to 5-FU, targeting tumor-derived MIF conferred a survival advantage to tumor-bearing animals and increased the cytotoxic T cell response within the tumor. Importantly, tumor cell proliferation, survival, and self-renewal were not impacted by MIF reduction, demonstrating that MIF is primarily an indirect promoter of GBM progression, working to suppress immune rejection by activating and protecting immune suppressive MDSCs within the GBM tumor microenvironment. Stem Cells 2016;34:2026-2039.

Keywords: Cancer stem cells; Glioblastoma; Immunotherapy; MIF; Macrophage migration inhibitory factor; Myeloid-derived suppressor cells; Tumor immune suppression; Tumor microenvironment.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arginase / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / immunology*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion* / drug effects
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / metabolism*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / drug effects
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
  • ARG1 protein, human
  • Arginase