title: Tc17 cells in patients with uterine cervical cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The existence of Tc17 cells was recently shown in several types of infectious and autoimmune diseases, but their distribution and functions in uterine cervical cancer (UCC) have not been fully elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequency of Tc17 cells in peripheral blood samples obtained from UCC patients, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) patients and healthy controls was determined by flow cytometry. Besides, the prevalence of Tc17 cells and their relationships to Th17 cells and Foxp3-expressing T cells as well as microvessels in tissue samples of the patients were assessed by immunohistochemistry staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, patients with UCC or CIN had a higher proportion of Tc17 cells in both peripheral blood and cervical tissues, but the level of Tc17 cells in UCC tissues was significantly higher than that in CIN tissues. Besides, the increased level of Tc17 in UCC patients was associated with the status of pelvic lymph node metastases and increased microvessel density. Finally, significant correlations of infiltration between Tc17 cells and Th17 cells or Foxp3-expressing T cells were observed in UCC and CIN tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that Tc17 cell infiltration in cervical cancers is associated with cancer progression accompanied by increased infiltrations of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells as well as promoted tumor vasculogenesis.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Weifang City, Shandong, People's Republic of China ; Gynecology Oncology Key Library of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China ; Jinan Maternity and Children's Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Hou
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Weifang City, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Haematology Oncology Centre, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Daoxin
authors: D
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China ; Gynecology Oncology Key Library of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Youzhong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China ; Gynecology Oncology Key Library of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Beihua
authors: B
authors: Kong
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China ; Gynecology Oncology Key Library of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Baoxia
authors: B
authors: Cui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17