CD14−CD10−CD45+HLA‐DR−SSC+ neutrophils may be granulocytic myeloid‐derived suppressor cell–like cells and relate to disease progression in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients

We explored the frequency of CD14−CD10−CD45+HLA‐DR−SSC++ neutrophils (CD10− neutrophils) in patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and their immunologic characteristics and clinical significance. Patients with NHL who were newly diagnosed (NDP; n = 33), in remission (RMP; n = 28) and relapsed (RLP; n = 29) were included, and 47 volunteers were recruited as healthy controls (HCs). The frequency of CD10− neutrophils in the peripheral blood from HC and patients with NHL was detected. CD10− and CD10+ neutrophils were sorted, and their cytology was analyzed. CD3+ T cells were also isolated and cultured with the autologous CD10− or CD10+ neutrophils, after which the proliferation and death rates of T cells were determined. The levels of arginase‐1 (Arg‐1) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in CD10+ or CD10− neutrophils were examined. Few CD10− neutrophils were detected in HCs but were significantly elevated in patients with NHL, especially in NDP and RLP. In addition, CD10− neutrophils in NDP with advanced stage and high risk were markedly higher than those in NDP with limited stage and low risk. In RMP and RLP, the relapse‐free survival and overall survival in patients with high CD10− neutrophils were shorter than those with low CD10− neutrophils. CD10− neutrophils from patients with NHL, which mainly consist of immature neutrophils, inhibit T‐cell proliferation and facilitate T‐cell death. Furthermore, a significant increase was observed in Arg‐1 expression, along with an increase to a certain extent in ROS. CD10− neutrophils in patients with NHL have characteristics of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells and may be related to disease progression and poor prognosis. Our work demonstrates that the CD10− neutrophils in patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma are a relatively uniform, myeloid‐derived suppressor cell–like cells subset with T‐cell‐suppressive capacities and immature features. Importantly, the frequency of CD10− neutrophils is associated with disease development and progression.