title: Expression of IL-10 and IL-10 receptors on peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin-10 (IL-10) can mediate anti-tumor activity or tumor escape from the immune system. Here, we investigate IL-10 and IL-10recepter (IL-10R) expression in/on immune cells of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and healthy volunteers as normal controls (NC) to further evaluate the dual role IL-10 might play in this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 15 HNSCC patients and 15 NC were stained and used for flow cytometry or stimulated first with OKT3/anti-CD28 Abs in the presence of IL-2 or with lipopolysaccharide and then stained for flow cytometry. The percentages of IL-10+ or IL-10R+ lymphocytes and monocytes and their mean fluorescence intensity were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monocytes had the highest frequency of IL-10+ and IL-10R+ cells before or after stimulation and the highest expression levels of these markers followed by CD8+ and then CD4+ T lymphocytes. No significant differences in the frequency or expression levels of IL-10 or IL-10R were observed between patients with HNSCC and NC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monocytes in the circulation of patients and NC are the main subset of IL-10- and IL-10R-expressing cells. The frequency of IL-10+ and IL-10R+ monocytes in patients with HNSCC is comparable to that in NC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan. hisashi@tokai-u.jp
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Theresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whiteside
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C508609:IL10 protein, human; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; D016753:Interleukin-10