Tumor-infiltrating monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells contribute to the development of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive and treatment-resistant tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Here, we investigated the roles of different immunosuppressive cell types in the development of the GC TIME. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and multiplex immunostaining of samples from untreated or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-resistant GC patients were used to examine the correlation between certain immunosuppressive cells and the prognosis of GC patients. Results: The results of the scRNA-seq analysis revealed that tumor-infiltrating monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (TI-M-MDSCs) expressed higher levels of genes with immunosuppressive functions than other immunosuppressive cell types. Additionally, M-MDSCs in GC tissues expressed significantly higher levels of these markers than adjacent normal tissues. The M-MDSCs were most enriched in GC tissues relative to adjacent normal tissues. Among the immunosuppressive cell types assessed, the M-MDSCs were most enriched in GC tissues relative to adjacent normal tissues; moreover, their presence was most strongly associated with a poor prognosis. Immediate early response 3 (IER3), which we identified as a differentially expressed gene between M-MDSCs of GC and adjacent normal tissues, was an independent poor prognostic factor in GC patients (P = 0.0003). IER3⁺ M-MDSCs expressed higher levels of genes with immunosuppressive functions than IER3⁻ M-MDSCs and were abundant in treatment-resistant GC patients. Conclusions: The present study suggests that TI-M-MDSCs, especially IER3⁺ ones, may play a predominant role in the development of the immunosuppressive and ICI-resistant GC TIME.