Background: Cancer, particularly cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is a major cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) play a central role in suppressing cancer immunosurveillance but their potential mobilisation in RTRs and levels relative to those of other immunoregulatory dendritic cell (DC) populations have not been analysed.
Methods: The circulating frequencies of MDSC and DC were analysed by multicolour flow cytometry in immunocompetent patients without (n = 13) or with (ICI-SCC(Pos), n = 14) current SCC, normal donors (NDs, n = 34), chronic kidney disease patients (CKD patients, n = 22) and RTRs (n = 31).
Results: Compared to NDs, RTRs had significantly elevated levels of both CD14(Neg) and CD14(Pos) MDSC subsets (P < 0.001), while CKD patients and ICI-SCC(Pos) had significantly elevated levels of only the CD14(Neg)-MDSC subset. DC frequencies were significantly decreased in RTRs and CKD patients but were at normal levels in ICI-SCC(Pos). The MDSC/DC ratio was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in RTRs (median = 5.7), CKD patients (median = 3.2) and ICI-SCC(Pos) (median = 3.5) relative to NDs (median = 0.7). The use of immunosuppressive drugs in CKD patients and past/current occurrence of SCC in RTRs was associated with significantly increased CD14(Neg)-MDSC frequencies. MDSC enriched from RTRs, when co-cultured with activated NDs T cells significantly suppressed extracellular IL-10 levels and can, when activated with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, inhibit T-cell proliferation.
Conclusions: RTRs, CKD patients and ICI-SCC(Pos) have increased MDSC frequencies and MDSC/DC ratios. These changes may impact on cancer immunosurveillance. Therefore, MDSC represent both a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker in these patients, with respect to the development of SCC and other malignancies.