Guohui Qin1,2, Jingyao Lian1, Lan Huang1, Qitai Zhao1,2, Shasha Liu1, Zhen Zhang1, Xinfeng Chen1,2, Dongli Yue1,2, Lifeng Li1,2, Feng Li1, Lidong Wang3, Viktor Umansky4, Bin Zhang5, Shengli Yang1, Yi Zhang1,2,6,7. 1. Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. 2. Cancer Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. 3. Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. 4. Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg and Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. 5. Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine-Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA. 6. School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. 7. Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Abstract
Purpose: Tumor development has been closely linked to tumor microenvironment, particularly in terms of myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs), a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that protect tumors from elimination by immune cells. Approaches aimed at blocking MDSC accumulation could improve cancer clinical outcome. Experimental Design: We investigated that metformin suppressed MDSC migration to inhibit cancer progression. Primary tumor tissues were incubated with metformin, and proinflammatory chemokine production was measured. To study MDSC chemotaxis in vivo, BALB/C nude mice were injected subcutaneously with TE7 cells and treated with metformin. Migration of adoptively transferred MDSCs was analyzed using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results: The frequency of tumor-infiltrated polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSCs was increased compared to their circulating counterparts. There was a significant correlation between PMN-MDSCs accumulation in tumors and ESCC prognosis. Moreover, PMN-MDSCs displayed immunosuppressive activity in vitro. Treatment with metformin reduced MDSC migration in patients. Metformin inhibited CXCL1 secretion in ESCC cells and tumor xenografts by enhancing AMPK phosphorylation and inducing DACH1 expression, leading to NF-κB inhibition and reducing MDSC migration. Knockdown of AMPK and DACH1 expression blocked the effect of metformin on MDSC chemotaxis. Conclusions: A novel anti-tumor effect of metformin, which is mediated by reducing PMN-MDSC accumulation in the tumor microenvironment via AMPK/DACH1/CXCL1 axis.
Purpose: Tumor development has been closely linked to tumor microenvironment, particularly in terms of myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs), a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that protect tumors from elimination by immune cells. Approaches aimed at blocking MDSC accumulation could improve cancer clinical outcome. Experimental Design: We investigated that metformin suppressed MDSC migration to inhibit cancer progression. Primary tumor tissues were incubated with metformin, and proinflammatory chemokine production was measured. To study MDSC chemotaxis in vivo, BALB/C nude mice were injected subcutaneously with TE7 cells and treated with metformin. Migration of adoptively transferred MDSCs was analyzed using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results: The frequency of tumor-infiltrated polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSCs was increased compared to their circulating counterparts. There was a significant correlation between PMN-MDSCs accumulation in tumors and ESCC prognosis. Moreover, PMN-MDSCs displayed immunosuppressive activity in vitro. Treatment with metformin reduced MDSC migration in patients. Metformin inhibited CXCL1 secretion in ESCC cells and tumor xenografts by enhancing AMPK phosphorylation and inducing DACH1 expression, leading to NF-κB inhibition and reducing MDSC migration. Knockdown of AMPK and DACH1 expression blocked the effect of metformin on MDSC chemotaxis. Conclusions: A novel anti-tumor effect of metformin, which is mediated by reducing PMN-MDSC accumulation in the tumor microenvironment via AMPK/DACH1/CXCL1 axis.
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