Mitochondrial transfer involved in immunosuppressive activity
Granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs) provide anti-inflammatory cover for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilm persistence but the mechanism remains unclear.
The researchers show that macrophages transfer mitochondria to G-MDSCs via tunneling nanotubes, enhancing their anti-inflammatory activity.
Augmenting mitochondrial abundance in G-MDSCs enhances T cell-suppressive activity and reduces tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) production.
Acquisition of functional mitochondria promotes transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming of G-MDSCs and biofilm infection in vivo, whereas transfer of nonfunctional mitochondria does not, revealing the importance of active mitochondria in altering G-MDSC activity.
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(26)00135-X
