Because LOX-1 had previously been associated with suppressive polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppress cells, the investigators sought to determine if the low-density granulocytes from SLE patients were suppressive. When they tested the supernatants from SLE low-density granulocytes, they found the supernatants did not restrict healthy donor CD4+ T cell proliferation in an arginase-dependent manner. Further, the SLE low-density granulocytes supernatants induced proinflammatory cytokine production from CD4+ T cells. These findings suggest that although the SLE low-density granulocytes exhibit an activated phenotype, they don’t suppress T cells, but rather promote Th1 responses.
Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.
Reference
- Rahman S, Sagar D, Hanna RN, et al. Low-density granulocytes activate T cells and demonstrate a non-suppressive role in systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019 Apr 30. pii: annrheumdis-2018-214620. [Epub ahead of print]
