CD14+CD15-HLA-DR- myeloid-derived suppressor cells impair antimicrobial responses in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure

  • Christine Bernsmeier
  • , Evangelos Triantafyllou
  • , Robert Brenig
  • , Fanny J. Lebosse
  • , Arjuna Singanayagam
  • , Vishal C. Patel
  • , Oltin T. Pop
  • , Wafa Khamri
  • , Rooshi Nathwani
  • , Robert Tidswell
  • , Christopher J. Weston
  • , David H. Adams
  • , Mark R. Thursz
  • , Julia A. Wendon
  • , Charalambos Gustav Antoniades

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Immune paresis in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) accounts for infection susceptibility and increased mortality. Immunosuppressive mononuclear CD14+HLA-DR- myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) have recently been identified to quell antimicrobial responses in immune-mediated diseases. We sought to delineate the function and derivation of M-MDSC in patients with ACLF, and explore potential targets to augment antimicrobial responses.

DESIGN: Patients with ACLF (n=41) were compared with healthy subjects (n=25) and patients with cirrhosis (n=22) or acute liver failure (n=30). CD14+CD15-CD11b+HLA-DR- cells were identified as per definition of M-MDSC and detailed immunophenotypic analyses were performed. Suppression of T cell activation was assessed by mixed lymphocyte reaction. Assessment of innate immune function included cytokine expression in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR-2, TLR-4 and TLR-9) stimulation and phagocytosis assays using flow cytometry and live cell imaging-based techniques.

RESULTS: Circulating CD14+CD15-CD11b+HLA-DR- M-MDSCs were markedly expanded in patients with ACLF (55% of CD14+ cells). M-MDSC displayed immunosuppressive properties, significantly decreasing T cell proliferation (p=0.01), producing less tumour necrosis factor-alpha/interleukin-6 in response to TLR stimulation (all p<0.01), and reduced bacterial uptake of Escherichia coli (p<0.001). Persistently low expression of HLA-DR during disease evolution was linked to secondary infection and 28-day mortality. Recurrent TLR-2 and TLR-4 stimulation expanded M-MDSC in vitro. By contrast, TLR-3 agonism reconstituted HLA-DR expression and innate immune function ex vivo.

CONCLUSION: Immunosuppressive CD14+HLA-DR- M-MDSCs are expanded in patients with ACLF. They were depicted by suppressing T cell function, attenuated antimicrobial innate immune responses, linked to secondary infection, disease severity and prognosis. TLR-3 agonism reversed M-MDSC expansion and innate immune function and merits further evaluation as potential immunotherapeutic agent.

Original languageEnglish
JournalGut
Early online date7 Jun 2017
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 7 Jun 2017

Keywords

  • Journal Article

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