[Detection of intracellular and extracellular cytokines of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in gastric cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells play a crucial role in the immunosuppression of gastric cancer patients, but the mechanism is still unknown. This study was to investigate the secretion of intracellular and extracellular cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) from CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in gastric cancer patients, and evaluate their roles in the immunosuppression of gastric cancer.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes of gastric cancer patients were prepared routinely. CD4+CD25+ T cells and CD4+CD25- T cells were isolated by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) method, and identified by flow cytometry. The cytokine secretion of CD4+CD25+ T cells and CD4+CD25- T cells was detected by intracellular analysis of cytokine production (IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10) and ELISA (IFN-gamma, IL-10 and TGF-beta).


RESULTS
The proportion of CD4+CD25+ T cells to CD4+ T cells was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients than in healthy controls (P<0.05). After 96-hour cell culture, no matter in gastric cancer patients or in healthy controls, the secretion of IL-10 and TGF-beta were significantly higher from CD4+CD25+ T cells than from CD4+CD25- T cells (P<0.05), but the secretion of IFN-gamma was significantly lower from CD4+CD25+ T cells than from CD4+CD25- T cells (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The immunosuppression of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in gastric cancer may relate to suppressive cytokines, especially TGF-beta.
Wang
Lin-Yun
LY
Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
Zeng
Yin
Y
Pan
Zhi-Zhong
ZZ
Zhu
Zhao-Hua
ZH
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma