Release of IFNgamma by Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Remodels Bone Marrow Immune Microenvironment by Inducing Regulatory T Cells

Purpose: The stromal and immune bone marrow (BM) landscape is emerging as a crucial determinant for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Regulatory T cells (Treg) are enriched in the AML microenvironment, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly elucidated. Here, we addressed the effect of IFN? released by AML cells in BM Treg induction and its impact on AML prognosis. Experimental design: BM aspirates from patients with AML were subdivided according to IFNG expression. Gene expression profiles in INF?high and IFN?low samples were compared by microarray and NanoString analysis and used to compute a prognostic index. The IFN? release effect on the BM microenvironment was investigated in mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)/AML cell cocultures. In mice, AML cells silenced for ifng expression were injected intrabone. Results: IFN?high AML samples showed an upregulation of inflammatory genes, usually correlated with a good prognosis in cancer. In contrast, in patients with AML, high IFNG expression was associated with poor overall survival. Notably, IFN? release by AML cells positively correlated with a higher BM suppressive Treg frequency. In coculture experiments, IFN?high AML cells modified MSC transcriptome by upregulating IFN?-dependent genes related to Treg induction, including indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). IDO1 inhibitor abrogated the effect of IFN? release by AML cells on MSC-derived Treg induction. In vivo, the genetic ablation of IFN? production by AML cells reduced MSC IDO1 expression and Treg infiltration, hindering AML engraftment. Conclusions: IFN? release by AML cells induces an immune-regulatory program in MSCs and remodels BM immunologic landscape toward Treg induction, contributing to an immunotolerant microenvironment. See related commentary by Ferrell and Kordasti, p. 2986.