title: Regulatory T cells and TGF-β1 in clinically localized renal cell carcinoma: Comparison with age-matched healthy controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the proportion of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the peripheral blood (PB) and among tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) compared with age-matched healthy controls (HCs). We also assessed the presence of several immunomodulatory cytokines in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The proportion of Treg cells in the PB of 59 patients with clinically localized RCC and 65 HCs, as well as the prevalence of Treg cells among TILs and lymphocytes in normal kidney tissue, were evaluated by flow cytometry using specific monoclonal antibodies recognizing CD4(+), CD25(+), and Foxp3(+) markers. In addition, the levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ were determined using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the mean percentage of Treg cells in the PB of patients with RCC and HCs (P = 0.148). However, the proportion of Treg cells showed a significant positive correlation with tumor size (r = 0.295, P = 0.029), with the percentage of PB Treg cells significantly higher in patients with RCC with large tumors (≥7 cm) than in HCs (4.6 ± 5.8% vs. 1.9 ± 2.6%, P = 0.023). There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of Treg cells among TILs and lymphocytes in normal kidney tissue (P = 0.629). The mean TGF-β1 level in patients with RCC was statistically significantly higher than in HCs (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we provide evidence for an increased proportion of Treg cells in the PB of clinically localized patients with RCC with substantial tumor burden and a higher level of TGF-β1 compared with age-matched HCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Choung-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yunlim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taekmin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dalsan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hanjong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: igjeong@amc.seoul.kr.
authors.forename: In Gab
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
keywords: Age; Carcinoma; Regulatory; Renal cell; T lymphocytes; Transforming growth factor beta