Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
The myeloid derived suppressor cells: Who are they? Can they be used as a diagnostic tool to investigate metastasis in veterinary medicine?
- Journal:
- Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases
- Year:
- 2018
- Authors:
- Nadal, Clémence et al.
- Affiliation:
- Unité · France
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are special immune cells that can help tumors grow and spread by weakening the body's immune response. Research has shown that these cells are present in various types of cancer in humans and mice, and now they have also been found in dogs. In dogs with cancer that has spread, the number of MDSCs in their blood is higher, suggesting that these cells could be used as a new way to track cancer progression. Understanding MDSCs better in other animals with cancer could also be very helpful. Overall, this research indicates that MDSCs might be a promising tool for diagnosing and monitoring cancer in pets.
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are key players in immunosuppression mechanisms that lead to tumor escape and metastasis formation. Studies on these cells in many cancer types using human patients and murine models, have greatly increased since their discovery in 1980s. MDSCs are now defined as different subpopulations with specific phenotypes in mice and humans with clear immunosuppressive capacities, which are summarized in this review. Current knowledge on these cells have allowed comparative studies and MDSCs have also recently been identified in dogs. As in other species, canine MDSCs have immunosuppressive activities and their number is increased in blood of metastasis-bearing dogs. Circulating MDSCs could therefore represent a new biomarker for cancer progression in both veterinary and human medicine. Further characterization of these cells in other cancer-suffering animal species would also be of great interest.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30502832/