Helper and cytotoxic T-cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Tc1, and Tc2) in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of T helper type 1 (Th1; CD4(+) IFN-γ (+) ) and Th2 (CD4(+) IL-4(+) ) cells, as well as cytotoxic T cell type 1 (Tc1; CD8(+) IFN-γ(+) ) and Tc2 cells (CD8(+) IL-4(+) ) in peripheral blood of the patients with salivary gland tumors (SGTs).


METHODS
Thirty new patients with SGTs and 15 healthy controls were recruited. After intracellular cytokine staining, data acquisition and analysis were performed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The mean percentages of Th1 and Tc1 cells, as well as the ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2, were observed to be significantly lower in patients with malignant SGTs in comparison with controls. Furthermore, the geometric mean fluorescent intensity (geometric MFI, representing the cytokine expression intensity) for IL-4 production by Th2 and Tc2 lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with malignant tumors than controls. Positive correlations were observed between the mean percentage of Tc2 cells with Th2 cells, and with the tumor size in patients with benign and malignant tumors, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratios, as well as the increase in the expression of IL-4 by Th2 and Tc2 lymphocytes, may contribute to the pathogenesis of SGTs, especially in malignant cases.
Cancer Immunology group, Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
M R
MR
Haghshenas
Cancer Immunology group, Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.|Department of Otolaryngology, Khalili Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
B
B
Khademi
Department of Pathology, Khalili Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
M J
MJ
Ashraf
Cancer Immunology group, Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
A
A
Ghaderi
Cancer Immunology group, Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
N
N
Erfani
D001772:Blood Cell Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; D018417:Th1 Cells; D018418:Th2 Cells
D015847:Interleukin-4
Tc1; Tc2 and salivary gland tumors; Th1; Th2