2. Academic Validation
  3. CD177 Deficiency Defines a Stable Subtype of Human Neutrophil Granulocytes with Tumor Promoting Activity

CD177 Deficiency Defines a Stable Subtype of Human Neutrophil Granulocytes with Tumor Promoting Activity

  • Adv Sci (Weinh). 2026 Jun 22:e76236. doi: 10.1002/advs.76236.
Marcel Jung 1,  Alexander Beer 1,  Susmita Ghosh 2,  Ekaterina Pylaeva 3,  Belal Alshaar 2,  Tobias Tertel 4,  Nils Bastian Leimkühler 5,  Thomas Schroeder 5,  Janine Gronewold 6,  Nina Hagemann 6,  Ayan Mohamud Yusuf 6,  Benedikt Frank 6,  Yiqiao Zhang 6,  Dennis Nagel 1,  Kim Schloeßer 2,  Laura Karsch 1,  Emily Hedtfeld 1,  Sabrina Lohmann 1,  Kathrin Blank 1,  Andreas Kraus 1,  Max Krumbein 3,  Nastassia Kabankova 3,  Hongxiao Wang 2 7,  Almke Bader 8,  Mathis Richter 9,  Fengjun Zhang 9,  Raphael Chevre 9,  Bernd Giebel 4,  Stephan Lang 3 10,  Anika Grüneboom 2,  Daniela Maier-Begandt 8,  Anja Hasenberg 1,  Oliver Soehnlein 9,  Hans Christian Reinhardt 5 11 12,  Sven Heiles 2 13,  Jianxu Chen 2,  Jadwiga Jablonska 3 10,  Albert Sickmann 2 14,  Dirk M Hermann 6,  Matthias Gunzer 1 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute For Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 2 Leibniz-Institut Für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS - e.V., Dortmund, Germany.
  • 3 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 4 Institute For Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 5 Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, West-German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 6 Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 7 Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
  • 8 Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
  • 9 Institute For Experimental Pathology, Centre of Molecular Biology of Inflammation, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
  • 10 Partner Site Düsseldorf/Essen, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen, Germany.
  • 11 West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 12 Center For Molecular Biotechnology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 13 Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  • 14 Medical Faculty, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
PMID: 42325214 DOI: 10.1002/advs.76236
Abstract

The surface protein CD177 on human neutrophil granulocytes is linked to tissue infiltration. In most individuals, circulating neutrophils comprise distinct fractions of CD177-expressing (CD177+) and non-expressing (CD177-) cells, which differ functionally and influence disease outcomes. Currently, CD177 is considered a dynamic activation marker ultimately expressed by most neutrophils. Here, we show that, instead, CD177--neutrophils represent a stable subpopulation that never acquires CD177. CD177+- to CD177--neutrophil ratios persist over time in individuals, regardless of circadian rhythms or inflammation. Neutrophils remain CD177- during in vitro stimulation and are morphologically similar to CD177+-cells, but differ markedly regarding protein composition. Following stem cell transplantation, the host bone marrow defines the CD177-pattern of mature neutrophils. Functionally, CD177- neutrophils display pro-tumoral properties, including elevated Arginase expression and enhanced tumor-supporting activity, are enriched in human head-and-neck Cancer tissues, and associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Hence, CD177-expression or -absence defines stable human neutrophil subtypes with distinct functions.

Keywords

CD177; cancer; human neutrophils; inflammation; transmigration.

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