Obesity correlates with the immunosuppressive ILC2s‐MDSCs axis in advanced breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Aim We investigated the relationship between the group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s)‐myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) axis and obesity‐related breast cancer. Methods Fifty‐eight patients with breast cancer who had first relapse and metastasis between January 2019 and August 2021 were enrolled. The proportions of ILC2s and MDSCs in blood and the levels of cytokines in serum were detected with flow cytometry. Correlation analysis among clinical characteristics (such as body mass index [BMI]), cytokines, ILC2s, and MDSCs was conducted. Results There was a significant difference in the proportions of ILC2s and MDSCs between the high BMI group and the normal BMI group (p .05). Additionally, ILC2s showed positive correlations with MDSCs, interleukin‐5 (IL‐5), IL‐10, IL‐17A, (PD‐L1), programmed cell death 2 ligand 2 (PD‐L2), and molecular typing (p < .05). Similarly, MDSCs exhibited positive correlations with IL‐5, IL‐8, IL‐9, IL‐17A, PD‐L1, and PD‐L2 (p < .05). In patients with TNBC, there was a positive correlation between BMI and IL‐5 (p < .05). Conclusion Conclusively, obesity may enhance the immunosuppressive effect of the ILC2‐MDSC axis in advanced breast cancer. IL‐5 may play a vital role in the ILC2‐MDSC axis and obesity in TNBC.

Keywords

• advanced breast cancer
• group 2 innate lymphoid cells
• inflammatory factors
• interleukin
• myeloid‐derived suppressor cells
• obesity