[The change of CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells in breast cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the proportion of CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tumor infiltration lymphocytes from breast cancer patients and explore its significance.


METHODS
Lymphocytes isolated from blood and tumor mass of breast cancer patients were analyzed for the proportion of CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells by flow cytometry. The expression of Foxp3 on CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells, as well as CD45RO, CD44 and CD62L, were also analyzed. The effects of CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells on the proliferation of CD4+ CD25- T cells also were detected by 3H-incorporation assay.


RESULTS
Compared to the control, increased proportion of CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells was observed in PBMCs and TILs from breast cancer patients. Moreover, CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells, expressing high level of Foxp3, displayed effector memory phenotype determined by high level expression of CD45RO, CD44 and low level of CD62L. In addition, CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells could inhibit the proliferation of CD4+ CD25- T cells in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
The enrichment of CD4+ CD25high CCR6+ regulatory T cells in tumor mass in breast cancer patients, which might be close related to long term immunoescape of tumor.
Xu
Lin
L
Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi 563003, China.
Zhou
Ya
Y
Xiao
Dai-Min
DM
Qin
Ming
M
Luo
Jun-Min
JM
Tang
Xian-Ying
XY
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D054399:Receptors, CCR6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology*
C106311:CCR6 protein, human; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D054399:Receptors, CCR6