T h 17, T h 22, and Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Population Dynamics and Response to IL-6 in 4T1 Mammary Carcinoma.

Immunotherapies relying on type 1 immunity have shown robust clinical responses in some cancers yet remain relatively ineffective in solid breast tumors. Polarization toward type 2 immunity and expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) confer resistance to therapy, though it remains unclear whether polarization toward type 3 immunity occurs or has a similar effect. Therefore, we investigated the involvement of type 3 T h 17 and T h 22 cells and their association with expanding MDSC populations in the 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma model. T h 17 and T h 22 were detected in the earliest measurable mass at d 14 and remained present until the final sampling on d 28. In peripheral organs, T h 17 populations were significantly higher than the non-tumor bearing control and peaked early at d 7, before a palpable tumor had formed. Peripheral T h 22 proportions were also significantly increased, though at later times when tumors were established. To further address the mechanism underlying type 3 immune cell and MDSC recruitment, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out 4T1 tumor production of interleukin-6 (4T1-IL-6-KO), which functions in myelopoiesis, MDSC recruitment, and T h maturation. While 4T1-IL-6-KO tumor growth was similar to the control, the reduced IL-6 significantly expanded the total CD4 + T h population and T h 17 in tumors, while T h 22 and MDSC were reduced in all tissues; this suggests that clinical IL-6 depletion combined with immunotherapy could improve outcomes. In sum, 4T1 mammary carcinomas secrete IL-6 and other factors, to polarize and reshape T h populations and expand distinct T h 17 and T h 22 populations, which may facilitate tumor growth and confer immunotherapy resistance.