Interleukin-10 produced by myeloid-derived suppressor cells is critical for the induction of Tregs and attenuation of rheumatoid inflammation in mice

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are heterogenous populations of immature myeloid progenitor cells with immunoregulatory function. MDSCs play critical roles in controlling the processes of autoimmunity but their roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are controversial. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether MDSCs have therapeutic impact in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), an animal model of RA. We also examined the mechanisms underlying the anti-arthritic effect of MDSCs. In vitro treatment with MDSCs repressed IL-17 but increased FOXP3 in CD4+ T cells in mice. In vivo infusion of MDSCs markedly ameliorated inflammatory arthritis. Th17 cells and Th1 cells were decreased while Tregs were increased in the spleens of MDSCs-treated mice. MDSCs profoundly inhibited T cell proliferation. Addition of anti-IL-10 almost completely blocked the anti-proliferative effects of MDSCs on T cells. Anti-IL-10 blocked the expansion of Tregs by MDSCs. However, infusion of MDSCs from IL-10 KO mice failed to suppress inflammatory arthritis. MDSCs could reciprocally regulate Th17/Treg cells and suppress CIA via IL-10, suggesting that MDSCs might be a promising therapeutic strategy for T cell mediated autoimmune diseases including RA.