Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), which is in principle curable, may develop into life-threatening MM. Intestinal microbiota and gut-born T helper-17 (Th17) lymphocytes may contribute to this development, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here we demonstrate that administering the human commensal Prevotella melaninogenica to transgenic Vk*MYC mice that exhibit SMM-like phenotypes delays the evolution to full-blown MM. Mechanistically, P. melaninogenica increases the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), thereby preventing the skewing of dendritic cells towards a pro-Th17 phenotype and subsequently accumulation of Th17 cells in the bone marrow of treated mice. P. melaninogenica or butyrate synergizes with anti-PD-L1 or anti-TIGIT to suppress myeloma progression by restraining Th17 cell expansion while inducing effector CD8+ T cells. P. melaninogenica also attenuates IL-17-mediated skin lesions that mimic anti-PD-L1-induced adverse events. Our results thus suggest that gut microbiota modulation or SCFAs administration may represent treatment options for patients affected by plasma cell dyscrasias.
Cogrossi, L., Policastro, A., Zordan, P., Grioni, M., Tosi, A., Rizzo, N., et al. (2025). Microbiome modulation uncouples efficacy and toxicity induced by immune checkpoint blockade in mouse multiple myeloma. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 16(1) [10.1038/s41467-025-65312-y].
Microbiome modulation uncouples efficacy and toxicity induced by immune checkpoint blockade in mouse multiple myeloma
Policastro A.;Palmioli A.;Airoldi C.;
2025
Abstract
Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), which is in principle curable, may develop into life-threatening MM. Intestinal microbiota and gut-born T helper-17 (Th17) lymphocytes may contribute to this development, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here we demonstrate that administering the human commensal Prevotella melaninogenica to transgenic Vk*MYC mice that exhibit SMM-like phenotypes delays the evolution to full-blown MM. Mechanistically, P. melaninogenica increases the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), thereby preventing the skewing of dendritic cells towards a pro-Th17 phenotype and subsequently accumulation of Th17 cells in the bone marrow of treated mice. P. melaninogenica or butyrate synergizes with anti-PD-L1 or anti-TIGIT to suppress myeloma progression by restraining Th17 cell expansion while inducing effector CD8+ T cells. P. melaninogenica also attenuates IL-17-mediated skin lesions that mimic anti-PD-L1-induced adverse events. Our results thus suggest that gut microbiota modulation or SCFAs administration may represent treatment options for patients affected by plasma cell dyscrasias.
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