MDSCs drive the process of endometriosis by enhancing angiogenesis and are a new potential therapeutic target

Tao Zhang, Juhua Zhou, Gene Chi Wai Man, Kam Tong Leung, Bo Liang, Bo Xiao, Xinting Ma, Shaoyan Huang, Huaxiang Huang, Venkatesh L Hegde, Zhong Yin, Yin Zhong, Yanmin Li, Grace Wing Shan Kong, Grace Kong, Alice Ka Wah Yiu, Joseph Kwong, Pak Cheung Ng, Bruce A Lessey, Prakash S Nagarkatti, Prakash Nagarkatti, Mitzi Nagarkatti, Chi Chiu Wang
European journal of immunology · 2018 · vol. 48(6) , pp. 1059–1073 · doi:10.1002/eji.201747417 · PMID:29460338 · W2792714345
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are elevated in endometriosis patients and promote lesion development by enhancing angiogenesis via the CXCL1/2/5-CXCR2 axis, identifying them as a potential therapeutic target.

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Abstract

Endometriosis affects women of reproductive age via unclear immunological mechanism(s). Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous group of myeloid cells with potent immunosuppressive and angiogenic properties. Here, we found MDSCs significantly increased in the peripheral blood of patients with endometriosis and in the peritoneal cavity of a mouse model of surgically induced endometriosis. Majority of MDSCs were granulocytic, produced ROS, and arginase, and suppressed T-cell proliferation. Depletion of MDSCs by antiGr-1 antibody dramatically suppressed development of endometrial lesions in mice. The chemokines CXCL1, 2, and 5 were expressed at sites of lesion while MDSCs expressed CXCR-2. These CXC-chemokines promoted MDSC migration toward endometriotic implants both in vitro and in vivo. Also, CXCR2-deficient mice show significantly decreased MDSC induction, endometrial lesions, and angiogenesis. Importantly, adoptive transfer of MDSCs into CXCR2-KO mice restored endometriotic growth and angiogenesis. Together, this study demonstrates that MDSCs play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and identifies a novel CXC-chemokine and receptor for the recruitment of MDSCs, thereby providing a potential target for endometriosis treatment.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents Endometriosis Endometrium Granulocytes Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Angiogenesis Inducing Agents Animals Arginase Arginase Cells, Cultured Chemokines Chemokines Cytokines Cytokines Disease Models, Animal Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Granulocytes

Citation neighborhood (2-hop)

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. Outer rings show 2-hop neighbours — papers reached through the immediate citers/citees. [ collapse to 1-hop ]

References (53)

Cited by (35)

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