title: The Th17/Treg balance and the expression of related cytokines in Uygur cervical cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fine balance of Th17/Treg is crucial for maintenance of immune homeostasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the balance of Th17/Treg and the expression of related cytokines in Uighur cervical cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood was collected from 65 cases of cervical cancer patients, 42 cases of cervical CIN patients and 40 healthy people. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentages of T cell subsets, including CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, Treg cells and Th17 cells. ELISA assay was conducted to detect expression levels of TGF-β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23 and IFN-γ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant difference in the levels of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ among the cervical cancer group, the CIN group and the healthy control group. However, compared with the healthy control group, the percentages of CD4+ CD25+ Treg, CD4+CD25+CD127- Treg, CD4+IL17+ Th17, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+, CD8+CD25+CD127-Treg and CD8+CD25+Foxp3 were significantly higher in the cervical cancer group and the CIN group. Similar results were also found in the Th17/Treg ratio and the related cytokines. There was no significant difference between the cervical cancer group and the CIN group. Additionally, Th17 cell levels were positively correlated with IL-6, IL-23 and IL-17. Also, Treg cell levels were positively correlated with TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-6. Contrarily, Treg cell levels and IFN-γ were negatively correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicated that the Th17/Treg balance was broken in peripheral blood of cervical cancer patients. Analysis of Th17/Treg balance may have a significant implication in diagnosing cervical cancer.
  The virtual slide for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1813823795931511.
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang 830054, P R China.
authors.forename: Zhifang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianbing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Nannan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Yuejie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cailing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines