Lung Cancer In Peripheral Blood Of Cd4 ~ + Cd25 ~ + Regulatory T Cells For The Determination Of The Immunosuppressive Effects Research

Objective CD4~+ CD25~+regulatory T cells can inhibit the proliferation and activation of T cells and natural killer cells,and play an important role in maintenance of self-tolerance and in preventing autoimmune disease.Recent studies indicate that regulatory T cells also play an important role in tumor immunosuppression.To explore the associations among the regulatory T cells,histopathological type,stage of TNM and cell differentiation and the relationship between the CD4~+ CD25~+regulatory T cells and the other lymphocytes and to study its function in tumor immunosuppression by detecting the changes of regulatory T cells in patients with advanced lung cancer.Methods The levels of CD4~+CD25~+regulatoryT cells in peripheral blood of 125 patients suffering from lung cancer and 45 healthy volunteers were determined by flow cytometry.The peripheral blood samples of lung cancer patients were collected before and after chemotherapy. In order to analyse the associations of cytokines,other lymphocytes and CD4~+CD25~+regulatoryT cells,the levels of CD3~+T cells,CD4~+T cells,CD8~+T cells,natural killer cells,B cells,IL-4, IFN-γin patients with lung cancer were measured.Results①CD4~+ CD25~+regulatory T cells numbers were significantly higher in 125 patients with lung cancer(1606±746) than in 45 healthy donors(795±256),(P＜0.001);the proportion of regulatory T cells was significantly higher in patients with lung cancer[(15.96±5.70)%of CD4~+ T cells]than in healthy donors(7.89±2.66)%(P＜0.001);②CD4~+CD25~+ T cells numbers were lower in lung cancer patients treated with chemotheraphy(629±288) compared to those patients without chemotheraphy(1606±746),(P＜0.001);The proportion of CD4~+CD25~+ T cells was lower in lung cancer patients treated with chemotheraphy(5.90±2.81)%compared to those patients without chemotheraphy(15.96±5.70)%(P＜0.001);③The level of CD4~+CD25~+ T cells was correlated with clinical stage and pathological differentiation,but not associated with pathologic classification.④The levels of CD4~+CD25~+regulatory T cells were negatively correlated with CD8~+T cells and Th1/Th2(P＜0.01),but were positively correlated with IL-4 and CD4~+T/CD8~+T(P＜0.01).No statistically significant relationships was found between regulatory T cells and CD3~+T cells,CD4~+T cells,natural killer cells,B cells(P＞0.05).Conclusion The regulatory T cells in peripheral blood from patients with advanced lung cancer is significantly increased in comparison with healthy subjects.It may be involved in tumor progression and immune suppression in lung cancer patients.The change of its expression will provide a clinical evidence for judging the curative effect and prognosis.It may be a new strategy to lung cancer to adjust the number and function of regulatory T cells to a normal level.