Distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell populations in human glioblastoma

Science. 2025 Jan 17;387(6731):eabm5214. doi: 10.1126/science.abm5214. Epub 2025 Jan 17.

Abstract

The role of glioma-associated myeloid cells in tumor growth and immune evasion remains poorly understood. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of immune and tumor cells from 33 gliomas, identifying two distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) populations in isocitrate dehydrogenase-wild-type (IDT-WT) glioblastoma: an early progenitor MDSC (E-MDSC) population with up-regulation of metabolic and hypoxia pathways and a monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) population. Spatial transcriptomics demonstrated that E-MDSCs geographically colocalize with metabolic stem-like tumor cells in the pseudopalisading region. Ligand-receptor analysis revealed cross-talk between these cells, where glioma stem-like cells produce chemokines attracting E-MDSCs, which in turn produce growth factors for the tumor cells. This interaction is absent in IDH-mutant gliomas, associated with hypermethylation and repressed gene expression of MDSC-attracting chemokines. Our study elucidates specific MDSCs that may facilitate glioblastoma progression and mediate tumor immunosuppression.

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Brain Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glioblastoma* / genetics
  • Glioblastoma* / immunology
  • Glioblastoma* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase* / genetics
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase* / metabolism
  • Monocytes
  • Mutation
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells* / immunology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Transcriptome
  • Tumor Escape

Substances

  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase
  • Chemokines