title: Gastrointestinal Foxp3 expression in normal, inflammatory and neoplastic conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foxp3(+) regulatory T lymphocytes (T-regs) represent an important regulatory cell subset in inflammatory, preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inflammatory, preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (189 cases) were studied with the evaluation of Foxp3 regulatory T cells based on immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few Foxp3(+) cells were found in controls and inflammatory conditions (oesophagitis, gastritis, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease); in preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions the number of Foxp3(+) cells was significatively increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In normal conditions the number of mucosal lymphocytes is very low throughout the gastro-intestinal tract; in active coeliac disease patients or on a gluten-free diet, only a slight increase in Foxp3(+) cells may be found. Gastrointestinal cancers are associated with higher Foxp3(+) cell proportion, compared with microscopically normal tissue and with precancerous conditions. However, it is uncertain whether the increase in these regulatory cells is a cause or a consequence of tumour progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy. villanacci@spedalicivili.brescia.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villanacci
authors.forename: Tarcisio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Not
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nascimbeni
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tommasini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manenti
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors