title: The changes of Th17 cells and the related cytokines in the progression of human colorectal cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of Th17 cells in colorectal tumorigenesis and development still remains unclear, despite the fact that it has been established in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We first analyzed Th17 cells and Treg cells using flow cytometry in the circulation of colorectal adenoma (CRA) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients and healthy controls, and the frequency of Th17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated by anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 and treated by IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β in different concentrations. We then detected cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-23 or TGF-β by ELISA in sera and supernatants from both normal and tumor tissues cultured ex vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells increased in the circulation of both CRA and CRC patients; the increase of Th17 cells in the circulation occurred in early stages, whereas the increase of Treg cells in the circulation and the increase of Th17 cells in tumor tissues occurred in advanced stages. The subsequent cytokine profiling showed that, along CRC progression, IL-1β, IL-17A and IL-23 underwent a similar change, while IL-6 in CRC exhibited an opposite change, with Th17 cells. In addition, high levels of TGF-β and IL-17A were detected in tumor tissues rather than in normal mucosa. The in vitro experiment further demonstrated that IL-1β, IL-6 or TGF-β modulated Th17 cell expansion in PBMC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study reveals a unique change of Th17 cells, which is regulated possibly by IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β in the progression of CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, 100038.
authors.forename: Jiansheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kaiyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chenghua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yuchen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xuebin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Guosheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Bao-Zhu
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines