Expression of TNFR2 by regulatory T cells in peripheral blood is correlated with clinical pathology of lung cancer patients.
CD4(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) represent a major cellular mediator of cancer immune evasion. The expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (TNFR2) on Tregs is reported to identify the maximally suppressive Treg population in both mice and human. We therefore investigated the phenotype and function of TNFR2(+) Tregs present in the peripheral blood (PB) of 43 lung cancer patients. Further, the association of TNFR2 expression on Tregs with clinicopathological factors was analyzed. The results showed that in the PB of lung cancer patients, Tregs expressed markedly higher levels of TNFR2 than conventional T cells (Tconvs). Expression of TNFR2 appeared to correlate better than CD25(+) and CD127(-) with FoxP3 expression. PB TNFR2(+) Tregs in lung cancer patients were more proliferative and expressed higher levels of the immunosuppressive molecule CTLA-4, and consequently more potently suppressed IFNγ production by cocultured CD8 CTLs. More importantly, higher TNFR2 expression levels on Tregs were associated with lymphatic invasion, distant metastasis and more advanced clinical stage of lung cancer patients. Therefore, our study suggests that TNFR2(+) Tregs play a role in promoting tumor progressive metastasis and expression of TNFR2 by PB Tregs may prove to be a useful prognostic marker in lung cancer patients.
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Rm 0601, Bldg C6, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300202, People's Republic of China.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Fan
F
Yan
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Rm 0601, Bldg C6, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300202, People's Republic of China.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Ruijuan
R
Du
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Rm 0601, Bldg C6, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300202, People's Republic of China.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Feng
F
Wei
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Rm 0601, Bldg C6, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300202, People's Republic of China.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Hua
H
Zhao
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Rm 0601, Bldg C6, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300202, People's Republic of China.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Jinpu
J
Yu
National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Changli
C
Wang
National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Zhongli
Z
Zhan
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Rm 0601, Bldg C6, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300202, People's Republic of China.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Tingting
T
Ding
Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Xiubao
X
Ren
State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Rm 7032, Bldg N22 (Office), Flat 4C, Staff Quarters S22 (Home), Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, SAR, People's Republic of China. xchen@umac.mo.
Xin
X
Chen
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Rm 0601, Bldg C6, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300202, People's Republic of China. lihui@tjmuch.com.|National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. lihui@tjmuch.com.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. lihui@tjmuch.com.
Hui
H
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D007371:Interferon-gamma
CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells; Clinical pathology; Immunosuppression; Lung cancer; Tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (TNFR2)