Mechanisms driving neutrophil-induced t-cell immunoparalysis in ovarian cancer

Tiffany R. Emmons, Thejaswini Giridharan, Kelly L. Singel, A. N. M. Nazmul H. Khan, Jason Ricciuti, Kaitlyn Howard, Stephanie L. Silva-del Toro, Ivy L. Debreceni, Cathelijn E. M. Aarts, Mieke C. Brouwer, Sora Suzuki, Taco W. Kuijpers, Ilse Jongerius, Lee-Ann H. Allen, Viviana P. Ferreira, Anna Schubart, Holger Sellner, J. rg Eder, Steven M. Holland, Sanjay RamJames A. Lederer, Kevin H. Eng, Kirsten B. Moysich, Kunle Odunsi, Michael B. Yaffe, Emese Zsiros, Brahm H. Segal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

T-cell activation and expansion in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are critical for antitumor immunity. Neutrophils in theTME acquire a complement-dependent T-cell suppressor phenotype that is characterized by inhibition of T-cell proliferation and activation through mechanisms distinct from those of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In this study, we used ascites fluid supernatants (ASC) from patients with ovarian cancer as an authentic component of the TME to evaluate the effects of ASC on neutrophil function and mechanisms for neutrophil-driven immune suppression. ASC prolonged neutrophil life span, decreased neutrophil density, and induced nuclear hypersegmentation. Mass cytometry analysis showed that ASC induced 15 distinct neutrophil clusters. ASC stimulated complement deposition and signaling in neutrophils, resulting in surface mobilization of granule constituents, including NADPH oxidase. NADPH oxidase activation and phosphatidylserine signaling were required for neutrophil suppressor function, although we did not observe a direct role of extracellular reactive oxygen species in inhibiting T-cell proliferation. Postoperative surgical drainage fluid also induced a complement-dependent neutrophil suppressor phenotype, pointing to this effect as a general response to injury. Like circulating lymphocytes, ASC-activated neutrophils caused complement-dependent suppression of tumorassociated lymphocytes. ASC-activated neutrophils adhered to T cells and caused trogocytosis of T-cell membranes. These injury and signaling cues resulted in T-cell immunoparalysis characterized by impaired NFAT translocation, IL2 production, glucose uptake, mitochondrial function, and mTOR activation. Our results demonstrate that complement-dependent priming of neutrophil effector functions in the TME induces a T-cell nonresponsiveness distinct from established checkpoint pathways and identify targets for immunotherapy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)790-810
Number of pages21
JournalCancer immunology research
Volume9
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2021

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