title: CD4+CD25+ regulatory T lymphocytes in malignant pleural effusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Active suppression by CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T lymphocytes plays an important role in the downregulation of T-cell responses to foreign and self-antigens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze whether the CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T lymphocytes exist and function normally in malignant pleural effusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+) T lymphocytes in pleural effusion and peripheral blood from patients with lung cancer with malignant effusion, pleural lavage and peripheral blood from patients with lung cancer without effusion, and peripheral blood from healthy control subjects were determined by flow cytometry. The expressions of forkhead transcription factor Foxp3 and cytotoxic lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 were also examined. CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells from pleural effusion and peripheral blood were isolated, and were cultured to observe the effects of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells on proliferation response of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were increased numbers of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in malignant pleural effusion from patients with lung cancer compared with pleural lavage from patients with lung cancer without pleural effusion, and that these cells have constitutive high-level expression of Foxp3 and cytotoxic lymphocyte-associated antigen-4. Furthermore, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells mediate potent inhibition of proliferation response of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells, and anticytotoxic lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 monoclonal antibody could reduce the inhibitory activity of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells found in malignant pleural effusion express high levels of Foxp3 transcription factor and potently suppress the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells, and cytotoxic lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 is involved in the suppressive activity of pleural CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, P. R. China. hzshi@vip.tom.com
authors.forename: Yi-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Huan-Zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Wu-Ning
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ze-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hai-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000494:pharmacology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2