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MIF mediates monocyte-dependent inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in triple-negative breast cancer
2026-08-17 37

MIF mediates monocyte-dependent inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in triple-negative breast cancer

Immunotherapies remain ineffective in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), underscoring the need to define drivers of immune suppression. Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for eliminating disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) through NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC), but this is impaired in metastasis. While tumor cell-intrinsic mechanisms of NK cell evasion are known, the role of other cells in the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. Using the Cherry-niche labeling system, we profiled early TNBC lung micrometastases and identified bone marrow-derived monocytes to be highly enriched and capable of suppressing NK cells within metastatic niches. Functional studies revealed that monocyte-derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) suppresses NKCC against TNBC cells via CXCR4. MIF inhibition restored NK cell activatory receptors, cytotoxic mediators, and tumor cell killing in vitro, while reducing metastatic outgrowth and increasing NK cell activatory receptors in vivo. These findings reveal MIF as a potential target to enhance NK cell function in TNBC metastasis.
Keywords natural killer cells monocytes MIF CXCR4 triple-negative breast cancer metastasis tumor microenvironment NK cell cytotoxicity immunosuppression 4IPP

Research Tools from AntibodySystem

NK cell markers NKp46 DNAM-1 NKG2D CD69
NK cell cytotoxic mediators CD16 Perforin Granzyme B CD27
Monocyte/macrophage markers CD14 CD115 CD11b CD45
Chemokine receptors CXCR4 CXCR2
MIF & receptors MIF CD74 CD44
Immune checkpoint PD-L1
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