title: Role of the spleen in immunosuppression of gastric cancer: predominance of suppressor precursor and suppressor inducer T cells in the recirculating spleen cells.
abstract: In order to analyse the role of the spleen on immunosuppression of gastric cancer, T cell phenotypes in the spleen cells (SC) were investigated by two colour fluorescence flow cytometry, with reference to their suppressor cell activity. Suppressor T cell phenotypes of CD4+2H4+ cells (suppressor/inducer T cells) and CD8+CD11+ (suppressor T cells) were distributed predominantly in SCs from patients with gastric cancer, while they were distributed scarcely in those with liver cirrhosis. Moreover, CD4+2H4+ cells and CD8+CD11+ cells were found predominantly in SCs and splenic vein lymphocytes (SVL) respectively. Among SCs, a significantly higher proportion of CD4+2H4+ cells was found in the recirculating SCs, but fewer were found in the residual SCs. Higher activity of Concanavalin-A induced suppressor cells was found in the former and that of spontaneously activated suppressor cells was found in the latter. These results suggest the suppressor precursor and suppressor/inducer T cells might distribute predominantly in the cells recirculating from the spleen, and that suppressor cells might be matured during the migration from the spleen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toge
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuninobu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kegoya
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hattori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*