title: The percentage of iNKT cells among other immune cells at various clinical stages of laryngeal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells constitute a small population of immune cells that share functional and phenotypic characteristics of T lymphocytes and NK cells. Due to their involvement in specific and non-specific immune responses, iNKT cells may represent an important component of antitumor and anti-infectious immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using flow cytometry, we analyzed the percentages of iNKT cells as well as T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood of 50 laryngeal cancer patients at various clinical stages in comparison to healthy controls (n=15). Moreover, we determined the expression of CD25, CD69 and CD95 antigens on T lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of CD4+/CD3+ T lymphocytes in the controls was higher than in laryngeal cancer patients, both with early and late stages of the disease. The percentage of CD8+/CD3+ T lymphocytes in healthy controls was lower than in patients with early and late clinical stages of laryngeal cancer. Patients with advanced laryngeal cancer showed a lower percentage of iNKT cells and higher frequencies of T regulatory cells (Tregs) than the controls. Advanced clinical stages of laryngeal cancer are associated with impaired activation of lymphocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirmed that laryngeal cancer cells exert a strong suppressor effect on the immune system of the host. This is reflected by a decrease in the percentage of iNKT cells that are capable of cancer cell elimination, and a concomitant increase in the percentage of Tregs. However, further studies are needed in order to explain the underlying mechanisms of immunosuppression and understand interactions between immune and cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngeal Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klatka
authors.affiliation: epartment of Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grywalska
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngeal Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wasiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Markowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngeal Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trojanowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngeal Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Olszański
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roliński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology