Abrogation of TGFβ Signaling in Mammary Carcinomas Recruits Gr-1+CD11b+ Myeloid Cells that Promote Metastasis

SummaryAberrant TGFβ signaling is common in human cancers and contributes to tumor metastasis. Here, we demonstrate that Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid cells are recruited into mammary carcinomas with type II TGFβ receptor gene (Tgfbr2) deletion and directly promote tumor metastasis. Gr-1+CD11b+ cells infiltrate into the invasive front of tumor tissues and facilitate tumor cell invasion and metastasis through a process involving metalloproteinase activity. This infiltration of Gr-1+CD11b+ cells also results in increased abundance of TGFβ1 in tumors with Tgfbr2 deletion. The recruitment of Gr-1+CD11b+ cells into tumors with Tgfbr2 deletion involves two chemokine receptor axes, the SDF-1/CXCR4 and CXCL5/CXCR2 axes. Together, these data indicate that Gr-1+CD11b+ cells contribute to TGFβ-mediated metastasis through enhancing tumor cell invasion and metastasis.