title: Neuropilin-1 expression identifies a subset of regulatory T cells in human lymph nodes that is modulated by preoperative chemoradiation therapy in cervical cancer.
abstract: We examined the phenotype and function of CD4+ T cells expressing the semaphorin III receptor neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) in human lymph nodes and peripheral blood. In lymph nodes, Nrp1 identified a small regulatory CD4+ CD25(high) T-cell subpopulation (Nrp1+ Treg) that expressed higher levels of Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) message and protein than Nrp1- Treg, and various molecular markers of activated Treg, i.e. CD45RO, human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and glucocorticoid-induced tumour necrosis factor receptor (GITR). Similarly to conventional Treg, Nrp1+ Treg proliferated poorly in vitro, and exerted contact-dependent in vitro suppression of T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion. However, Nrp1+ Treg were more efficient than Nrp1- Treg at inducing suppression. Nrp1 was also expressed on a small subpopulation of CD25(int) and CD25- CD4+ T cells that expressed more Foxp3, CD45RO, HLA-DR and GITR than their Nrp1- counterparts. In contrast, in peripheral blood Nrp1 identified a minor CD4+ T-cell subset that did not display the phenotypic features of Treg lacking Foxp3 expression and marginally expressing CD25. Hence, the function of Nrp1+ CD4+ T cells seemingly depends on their anatomical location. In a previous report, we proposed that Treg may curb the anti-tumour T-cell response in cervical cancer. We show here that Treg and Nrp1+ Treg levels dropped in the tumour-draining lymph nodes of patients with cervical cancer following preoperative chemoradiotherapy in a direct relationship with the reduction of tumour mass, suggesting that suppressor cell elimination facilitated the generation of T cells mediating the destruction of the neoplastic cells left behind after cytotoxic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Alexia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buzzonetti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monego
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrandina
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fanfani
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattorossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D039942:Neuropilin-1