title: Mast Cells Comprise the Major of Interleukin 17-Producing Cells and Predict a Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
abstract: IL-17 and IL-17-producing cells have been found in many types of human cancers and murine models. However, the source of tumor-infiltrating IL-17 and IL-17-producing cells in HCC and the prognostic values remain poorly understood. A total of 57 HCC patients were enrolled in this study, and immunofluorescence double stain was used to evaluate the colocalization of CD3 T cells, CD4 T cells, CD56 NK cells, CD20 B cells, CD68 Macrophages, and MCT mast cells with IL-17. The prognostic value of IL-17-producing cells was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model. MCT mast cells, but not other cells, were the predominant IL-17-producing cell type. Overall survival analysis revealed that the increasing intratumoral-infiltrated MCT mast cells were significantly associated with poor prognosis. Immunofluorescence double stain showed a positive correlation between the number of MCT mast cells and MCVs. These findings indicated the major IL-17-producing cells in HCC were MCT mast cells and these cells infiltration may promote tumor progression by angiogenesis. Increased MCT mast cells was associated with a poor prognosis, indicating therapy targeting MCT mast cells might be an effective strategy in controlling intratumor IL-17 infiltration and MCVs.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology (J-FT, X-HY, J-SJ), Lishui Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University; Department of Infection Diseases (H-YP); Department of Tumor Surgery (JL), the First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University; and Department of Cardiology (HZ), Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Fei
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Hong-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Xi-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Jian-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17