title: Characterization of regulatory T cells in tumor suppressive microenvironments.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that immunotherapy is a promising strategy for treating patients with invasive and metastatic cancers, but clinical trails are discouraging so far. Recent studies showed that several subsets of regulatory tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), such as naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg), and adaptively induced Treg cells of Tr1, Th3, CD8(+), as well as gammadelta Treg cells, have been identified in human cancers. These Treg-cell subsets form a tumor suppressive microenvironment that presents a major barrier to successful anti-tumor immunotherapy. Thus, how to modulate the Treg-cell function in tumor microenvironments is essential for cancer treatment and elimination. To date, there is no unique and selective marker for all subsets of Treg cells, and a combination of assays for Treg-associated markers and suppressive activity is still the most common way used to define these tumor-associated Treg cells. In this chapter, we describe protocols to purify and characterize tumor-associated Treg cells from peripheral blood and TILs of cancer patients, which is critical for predicting clinical outcomes and monitoring the effects of tumor immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunobiology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Guangyong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007371:Interferon-gamma