The prevalence of cervical regulatory T cells in HPV-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) correlates inversely with spontaneous regression of CIN.
OBJECTIVE
Local adaptive cervical regulatory T cells (Tregs) are the most likely direct suppressors of the immune eradication of cervical intraepithelial lesion (CIN). PD-1 expression on T cells induces Tregs. No studies have quantitatively analyzed the Tregs and PD-1+ cells residing in CIN lesions.


METHODS
Cervical lymphocytes were collected using cytobrushes from CIN patients and analyzed by FACS analysis. Comparisons were made between populations of cervical Tregs and PD-1+ CD4+ T cells in CIN regressors and non-regressors.


RESULTS
A median of 11% of cervical CD4+ T cells were Tregs, while a median of 30% were PD-1+ cells. The proportions of cervical CD4+ T cells that were Tregs and/or PD-1+ cells were significantly lower in CIN regressors when compared with non-regressors.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of cervical tolerogenic T cells correlates inversely with spontaneous regression of CIN. Cervical Tregs may play an important role in HPV-related neoplastic immunoevasion.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Satoko
S
Kojima
Kei
K
Kawana
Kensuke
K
Tomio
Aki
A
Yamashita
Ayumi
A
Taguchi
Shiho
S
Miura
Katsuyuki
K
Adachi
Takeshi
T
Nagamatsu
Kazunori
K
Nagasaka
Yoko
Y
Matsumoto
Takahide
T
Arimoto
Katsutoshi
K
Oda
Osamu
O
Wada-Hiraike
Tetsu
T
Yano
Yuji
Y
Taketani
Tomoyuki
T
Fujii
Danny J
DJ
Schust
Shiro
S
Kozuma
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology