Metabolic regulation of hepatitis B immunopathology by myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Nat Med. 2015 Jun;21(6):591-600. doi: 10.1038/nm.3856. Epub 2015 May 11.

Abstract

Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) results in disparate degrees of tissue injury: the virus can either replicate without pathological consequences or trigger immune-mediated necroinflammatory liver damage. We investigated the potential for myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to suppress T cell-mediated immunopathology in this setting. Granulocytic MDSCs (gMDSCs) expanded transiently in acute resolving HBV, decreasing in frequency prior to peak hepatic injury. In persistent infection, arginase-expressing gMDSCs (and circulating arginase) increased most in disease phases characterized by HBV replication without immunopathology, whilst L-arginine decreased. gMDSCs expressed liver-homing chemokine receptors and accumulated in the liver, their expansion supported by hepatic stellate cells. We provide in vitro and ex vivo evidence that gMDSCs potently inhibited T cells in a partially arginase-dependent manner. L-arginine-deprived T cells upregulated system L amino acid transporters to increase uptake of essential nutrients and attempt metabolic reprogramming. These data demonstrate the capacity of expanded arginase-expressing gMDSCs to regulate liver immunopathology in HBV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • Arginase / immunology
  • Arginase / metabolism
  • CD11b Antigen / immunology
  • CD11b Antigen / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Female
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / metabolism*
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / pathology
  • Hepatitis B / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B / metabolism
  • Hepatitis B / pathology
  • Hepatitis B virus / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism*
  • Myeloid Cells / pathology

Substances

  • CD11b Antigen
  • Arginase