Neutrophils – new insights for clinical studies


In the expanding field of immunology, new discoveries about the role of different cells in the manifestation of the immune response is added annually. Neutrophils which were regarded a homogenous population with no immune modulatory functions have been found by researchers to be a novel target for new therapeutics drugs.

Recently researchers have found out by studying hepatocellular carcinoma patients sample a neutrophils population which is characterized by CD10+ALPL+ Neu, are resistant to anti-PD-1 treatment (Figure 1). These neutrophils were isolated and co-cultured with CD3+ T-cells, showed a decreased in percentage of CD8+ T-cell secreted granzyme B and enhanced the fraction of exhausted CD8+T-cells.

Figure 1: Graphical abstract.

Researchers studied rats after anti-PD-1 therapy, rats infected with CD10-ALPL- Neu did not develop tumors as severe as developed in rats injected with CD10+ALPL+Neus.

The hepatoma cell derived tumor microenvironment secreted NAMPT reprogrammed CD10+ALPL+ Neu through NTRK1 activation promote development of CD10+ALPL+ Neutrophils.

Journal article: Meng, Y., et.al. 2023. Immunosuppressive CD10+ALPL+ neutrophils promote resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in HCC ​by mediating irreversible exhaustion of T cells. Journal of hepatology.

Summary by Shubham Kumar

 
 
 
 
 
 
International Union of Immunological SocietiesUniversity of South AfricaInstitute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineElizabeth Glazer Pediatric Aids Foundation