Study on immune function of dendritic cells in patients with esophageal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immune function of dendritic cells from both peripheral blood and operated tissues of esophageal carcinoma patients in order to find the relationship between the immune function of dendritic cells and the pathogenesis of esophageal carcinoma.


METHODS
The expression of CD83, CD80, and CD86 on the surface of dendritic cells cultured from the peripheral blood of patients was detected compared with that from health donors using flow cytometry. The ability of dendritic cells to induce T lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated by a liquid scintillation counter. The expression of CD80, CD86, CD83, and S-100 proteins was assessed in esophageal carcinoma tissues using immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
Compared with those from healthy donors, dendritic cells cultured from the peripheral blood of patients expressed lower CD80 and CD86. Furthermore, the ability of dendritic cells in patients to induce T lymphocyte proliferation was significantly lower than that of the control group. Compared with the control group, the positive expression ratio and frequencies of CD80, CD86, and S-100 in esophageal carcinoma tissues were significantly down regulated. The expression of CD83 was up-regulated in the pericancerous tissues, but no expression was found in the cancerous nodules.


CONCLUSIONS
The impaired immune function and the decreased number of dendritic cells cause pathogenesis and progression of esophageal carcinoma.
Chen
Shen-Ren
SR
The Second University Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Dongsha Northern Road, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China. chen-shenren@163.com
Luo
Yi-Ping
YP
Zhang
Jin-Kun
JK
Yang
Wei
W
Zhen
Zhi-Chao
ZC
Chen
Lin-Xin
LX
Zhang
Wei
W
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D009418:S100 Proteins