Abstract
Regulating immunity is a leading target for cancer therapy. Here, we show that the anti-tumor immune response can be modulated by the brain's reward system, a key circuitry in emotional processes. Activation of the reward system in tumor-bearing mice (Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and B16 melanoma) using chemogenetics (DREADDs), resulted in reduced tumor weight. This effect was mediated via the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), manifested by an attenuated noradrenergic input to a major immunological site, the bone marrow. Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which develop in the bone marrow, became less immunosuppressive following reward system activation. By depleting or adoptively transferring the MDSCs, we demonstrated that these cells are both necessary and sufficient to mediate reward system effects on tumor growth. Given the central role of the reward system in positive emotions, these findings introduce a physiological mechanism whereby the patient's psychological state can impact anti-tumor immunity and cancer progression.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adrenergic Neurons / drug effects
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Adrenergic Neurons / immunology
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Adrenergic Neurons / pathology
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Animals
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Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
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Bone Marrow Cells / immunology
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Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
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Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / immunology
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Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / pathology
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Clozapine / analogs & derivatives*
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Clozapine / pharmacology
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Dopamine / metabolism
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Dopaminergic Neurons / drug effects
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Dopaminergic Neurons / immunology
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Dopaminergic Neurons / pathology
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Immunity, Innate / drug effects
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Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
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Injections, Intraventricular
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Male
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Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy*
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Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
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Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / drug effects*
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Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / immunology
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Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / pathology
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Norepinephrine / metabolism
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Reward*
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Stereotaxic Techniques
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Sympathetic Nervous System / drug effects
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Sympathetic Nervous System / immunology
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Sympathetic Nervous System / pathology
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Tumor Burden / drug effects
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Ventral Tegmental Area / drug effects*
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Ventral Tegmental Area / immunology
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Ventral Tegmental Area / pathology
Substances
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Immunologic Factors
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Clozapine
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clozapine N-oxide
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Dopamine
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Norepinephrine