1. The CXCR4–STAT3–IL-10 Pathway Controls the Immunoregulatory Function of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Is Modulated by Lenalidomide
- Author
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Hila Shaim, Zeev Estrov, David Harris, Mayra Hernandez Sanabria, Zhiming Liu, Peter Ruvolo, Phillip A. Thompson, Alessandra Ferrajoli, May Daher, Jan Burger, Muharrem Muftuoglu, Nobuhiko Imahashi, Li Li, Enli Liu, Abdullah Saleh Alsuliman, Rafet Basar, Lucila Nassif Kerbauy, Catherine Sobieski, Elif Gokdemir, Kayo Kondo, William Wierda, Michael Keating, Elizabeth J. Shpall, and Katayoun Rezvani
- Subjects
chronic lymphocytic leukemia ,B10 ,regulatory B cells ,immunosuppression ,STAT3 ,IL-10 ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,RC581-607 - Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells possess regulatory functions comparable to those of normal B10 cells, a regulatory B cell subset that suppresses effector T-cell function through STAT3-mediated IL-10 production. However, the mechanisms governing IL-10 production by CLL cells are not fully understood. Here, we show that the CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)–CXCR4–STAT3 axis regulates IL-10 production by CLL cells and their ability to suppress T-cell effector function through an IL-10 mediated mechanism. Knockdown of STAT3 significantly impaired the ability of CLL cells to produce IL-10. Furthermore, experiments to assess the role of lenalidomide, an immunomodulatory agent with direct antitumor effect as well as pleiotropic activity on the immune system, showed that this agent prevents a CXCL12-induced increase in p-S727-STAT3 and the IL-10 response by CLL cells. Lenalidomide also suppressed IL-10-induced Y705-STAT3 phosphorylation in healthy T cells, thus reversing CLL-induced T-cell dysfunction. We conclude that the capacity of CLL cells to produce IL-10 is mediated by the CXCL12–CXCR4–STAT3 pathway and likely contributes to immunodeficiency in patients. Lenalidomide appears to be able to reverse CLL-induced immunosuppression through including abrogation of the CXCL12–CXCR4–S727–STAT3-mediated IL-10 response by CLL cells and prevention of IL-10-induced phosphorylation of Y705-STAT3 in T cells.
- Published
- 2018
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