Neutrophils suppress adaptive αβ T cells but not the innate γδ T cells and natural killer cells
- 1Sanquin Research, University of Amsterdam , ,
Abstract
The presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in the tumor microenvironment is associated with lower survival rates for cancer patients. Presumably due to the immunosuppressive activity of neutrophils (also known as Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell (MDSC) activity). We investigated whether this MDSC activity shows any selectivity in suppressing specific lymphocyte subsets. Our data show that CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ T cells, both naive and memory fractions, are sensitive to PMN-MDSC activity. Similarly, regulatory T cells, believed to play an important immunosuppressive function themselves, were affected too. In contrast, the more innate-like γδ T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells were left intact. Our data suggest that Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-NK and γδ CAR-T cell immunotherapy may be less susceptible to PMN-MDSC activity. Therefore, using such MDSC-resistant innate cells as cellular products may be of advantage over the common αβ CAR-T cell therapies. Additionally, further deciphering the exact mechanisms by which neutrophils suppress αβ T cells could lead to improved T cell immunotherapies.
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BibTeX
@article{gankema2026neutrophils,
title = {{Neutrophils suppress adaptive αβ T cells but not the innate γδ T cells and natural killer cells}},
author = {Angela A.F. Gankema and Fleur van Oosterom and Manon C. Slot and Céline I. Mahieu and Stamatia Rontogianni and Tamara Verkerk and Derk Amsen and Robin van Bruggen and Taco W. Kuijpers},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1977867},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13668509},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Neutrophils suppress adaptive αβ T cells but not the innate γδ T cells and natural killer cells
AU - Angela A.F. Gankema
AU - Fleur van Oosterom
AU - Manon C. Slot
AU - Céline I. Mahieu
AU - Stamatia Rontogianni
AU - Tamara Verkerk
AU - Derk Amsen
AU - Robin van Bruggen
AU - Taco W. Kuijpers
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Frontiers in immunology
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1977867
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13668509
AB - The presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in the tumor microenvironment is associated with lower survival rates for cancer patients. Presumably due to the immunosuppressive activity of neutrophils (also known as Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell (MDSC) activity). We investigated whether this MDSC activity shows any selectivity in suppressing specific lymphocyte subsets. Our data show that CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ T cells, both naive and memory fractions, are sensitive to PMN-MDSC activity. Similarly, regulatory T cells, believed to play an important immunosuppressive function themselves, were affected too. In contrast, the more innate-like γδ T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells were left intact. Our data suggest that Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-NK and γδ CAR-T cell immunotherapy may be less susceptible to PMN-MDSC activity. Therefore, using such MDSC-resistant innate cells as cellular products may be of advantage over the common αβ CAR-T cell therapies. Additionally, further deciphering the exact mechanisms by which neutrophils suppress αβ T cells could lead to improved T cell immunotherapies.
SN - 1664-3224
ER -