Distribution Of Th17Cells And Tregs In Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes In Patients With Uterine Cervical Cancer

OBJECTIVE. Th17cells have emerged as an important mediator in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Recent studies suggest a potential impact of Th17cells on tumor. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of Th17cells in relation to regulatory T cells in the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) of uterine cervical cancer (UCC) patients, cervical tissues of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and normal cervical tissues.METHODS. Interleukin (IL)-17-producing CD4(+) cells as Th17cells and FoxP3(+) cells as Tregs were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. The level of IL-6, TGF-β, IL-17and IL-10were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, immunohistochemical staining for microvessel density (MVD) was performed in order to assess the association of IL-17expression with angiogenesis.RESULTS. Compared with controls, patients with UCC or CIN had a higher proportion of Th17cells and Tregs, when the ratio of Th17/Treg in TILs was decreased in individual cases, it was more markedly decreased in TILs than normal cervical tissues. Meanwhile, the cytokine(IL-6, TGF-β and IL-10) concentrations were significantly higher in UCC patients than those in healthy controls. Interestingly, the levels of intratumoral Th17cells were positively correlated with MVD in tumors.CONCLUSIONS. The imbalance of Th17/Treg may play critical roles in the development and progression of UCC and Th17cells may promote tumor progression through fostering angiogenesis.