Immunosuppressive Function of Intratumor Red Blood Cells: An Immune-metabolic Perspective

Abstract

Erythrocyte could reach the tumor microenvironment after hemorrhage. Previous studies have proved that intratumor erythrocytes promote tumor cell proliferation and growth, while inducing an immunosuppressive state. In this viewpoint, it is propose that a metabolite-induced immunosuppressive function of red blood cells could be triggered in the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, the presence of erythrocytes in a microenvironment with low glucose and glutamine, high cholesterol, lactate and lysophosphatidic acid, and inducers of erythrocyte death, could result in immunosuppression.