title: Distribution of Th17 cells and Foxp3-expressing T cells in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with uterine cervical cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies suggest a potential impact of Th17 cells on tumor. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of Th17 cells in relation to Foxp3-expressing T cells in the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from patients with uterine cervical cancer (UCC), cervical tissues from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and healthy cervical tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Th17 cells and Foxp3-expressing T cells were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. IL-6, TGF-β, IL-17 and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemical staining for microvessel density (MVD) was performed in order to assess the association of IL-17 expression with angiogenesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, patients with UCC or CIN had a higher proportion of Th17 cells and Foxp3-expressing T cells, when the ratio of Th17/Foxp3-expressing T cells in TILs was decreased in individual cases, it was more markedly decreased in TILs than normal cervical tissues. Meanwhile, the cytokine(IL-6, TGF-β and IL-10) concentrations were significantly higher in UCC patients than those in healthy controls. Interestingly, the levels of intratumoral Th17 cells were positively correlated with MVD in tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The imbalance of Th17/Foxp3-expressing T cells may play critical roles in the development and progression of UCC and Th17 cells may promote tumor progression by fostering angiogenesis.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Hou
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Daoxin
authors: D
authors: Ma
authors: Wenjing
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Youzhong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Tingguo
authors: T
authors: Zhang
authors: Beihua
authors: B
authors: Kong
authors: Baoxia
authors: B
authors: Cui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000166:cytology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10