Roles of HMGB1 in regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment

Shuiling Jin; Zhenzhen Yang; Xin Hao; Wenxue Tang; Wang Ma; Hong Zong

doi:10.1186/s40364-020-00201-8

Roles of HMGB1 in regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment

Biomark Res. 2020 Jun 16:8:21. doi: 10.1186/s40364-020-00201-8. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Shuiling Jin^#¹, Zhenzhen Yang^#^{1

2}, Xin Hao³, Wenxue Tang^{4

5

6}, Wang Ma¹, Hong Zong¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, NO.1 Eastern Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China.
² Academy of medical science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China.
³ Henan college of Health Cadres, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China.
⁴ Departments of Otolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000 Henan China.
⁵ Center for Precision Medicine of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China.
⁶ Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, NO.40 North Daxue Road, Zhengzhou, 450052 Henan China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are notable contributors to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and are closely associated with tumor progression; in addition, MDSCs are present in most patients with cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate MDSCs in the etiopathogenesis of human tumor immunity remain unclear. The secreted alarmin high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a proinflammatory factor and inducer of many inflammatory molecules during MDSC development. In this review, we detail the currently reported characteristics of MDSCs in tumor immune escape and the regulatory role of secreted HMGB1 in MDSC differentiation, proliferation, activity and survival. Notably, different posttranslational modifications of HMGB1 may have various effects on MDSCs, and these effects need further identification. Moreover, exosome-derived HMGB1 is speculated to exert a regulatory effect on MDSCs, but no report has confirmed this hypothesis. Therefore, the effects of HMGB1 on MDSCs need more research attention, and additional investigations should be conducted.

Keywords: High mobility group box 1; Myeloid-derived suppressor cells; Tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review