Granulocytic/PMN Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cell (MDSC) Markers
Click on one of the myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) subsets shown in the buttons below to see the human and mouse markers that are most commonly used to identify each cell type.
Overview
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature dendritic cells, macrophages, and granulocytes that accumulate in tumor tissues and in peripheral lymphoid organs under certain pathological conditions or as a result of stress. In mice, all MDSCs express CD11b and Gr-1, but the cells can be separated into two distinct subsets, granulocytic or polymorphonuclear (PMN) MDSCs and monocytic MDSCs, depending on whether they express high levels of Ly-6G or Ly-6C. Mouse granulocytic MDSCs are CD11b+Ly-6C-Ly-6G+ polymorphonuclear cells with high side scatter (SSC), while mouse monocytic MDSCs are CD11b+Ly-6C+Ly-6G-/low mononuclear cells with low SSC. In tumor-bearing mice, granulocytic MDSCs are the predominant population of circulating MDSCs. Like monocytic MDSCs, granulocytic MDSCs express high levels of ARG1, but in addition, they also produce high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Other markers that have been used to distinguish granulocytic and monocytic MDSCs in mice include F4/80, M-CSF R/CD115, IL-4 R alpha/CD124, and CCR2. In humans, granulocytic and monocytic MDSC subsets have been identified as well. The predominant population varies with different types of cancer. Human granulocytic MDSCs are commonly described as Lin-CD11b+CD33+HLA-DR-CD14- cells that are CD15 and CD66b positive.
Data Examples
Identification of Human Granulocytic and Monocytic Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells by Flow Cytometry. (A) Lin–/HLA-DR– cells were detected in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by staining with a lineage cocktail containing Alexa Fluor® 700-conjugated Mouse Anti-Human CD3 epsilon and CD19 Monoclonal Antibodies (R&D Systems, Catalog # FAB100N and # FAB4867N, respectively) and an Alexa Fluor® 750-conjugated Mouse Anti-Human HLA-DR Monoclonal Antibody (R&D Systems, Catalog # FAB4869S). Lin–/HLA-DR– cells were gated. (B) CD11b+/CD33+ cells were detected in the Lin–/HLA-DR– cell population by staining with an APC-conjugated Mouse Anti-Human CD33/Siglec-3 Monoclonal Antibody (R&D Systems, Catalog # FAB1137A) and an Alexa Fluor® 405-conjugated Mouse Anti-Human CD11b/Integrin alpha M Monoclonal Antibody (R&D Systems, Catalog # FAB16991V). CD11b+/CD33+ cells were gated. (C) Human granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (Lin–/CD11b+/CD14–/CD33+/CEACAM-8+/HLA-DR–) and monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (Lin–/CD11b+/ CD14+/CD33+/CEACAM-8–/HLA-DR–) were detected in the Lin-/HLA-DR-/CD11b+/CD33+ cell population by staining with a PE-conjugated Mouse Anti-Human CEACAM-8/CD66b Monoclonal Antibody (R&D Systems, Catalog # FAB4246P) and a PerCP-conjugated Mouse Anti-Human CD14 Monoclonal Antibody (R&D Systems, Catalog # FAB3832C).