Myeloid-derived suppressor cells accumulate in the liver site after sepsis to induce immunosuppression

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a major role in modulating immune response, but only a few reports focused on MDSCs in the liver of sepsis states. Here, we investigated the changes in MDSCs in liver of the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mice. The results of flow cytometry showed that MDSCs accumulate in the liver site of mice after CLP for 7days (CLP7d model mice) and settled to the livers of both normal and LPS stimulated mice. In vitro experiment showed a strong suppressive effect of MDSCs on the proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes of spleen. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of the liver MDSCs from CLP7d miceincreased the survival rate of acute hepatic failure (AHF) model mice in vivo. In conclusion, our data suggest that sepsis-induced liver MDSCs may have exert a key role in maintaining the immune homoeostasis in liver during the sepsis state.