title: The distribution and function of human memory T cell subsets in lung cancer.
abstract: The distribution and function of T lymphocytes in human lung cancer remain limited. In this study, we investigated the properties of human T cell subsets in the blood of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We found a relatively normal level of CD4+ subsets in the blood of NSCLC patients, but CD8+ effector T cells increased and CD8+ effector memory cells declined compared to the healthy donors. To further analyze their properties, we stimulated the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of NSCLC patients by mitogens to examine cytokine production. Our data suggest that both CD4+ and CD8+ naïve cells in NSCLC patients significantly reduced IFN-γ and TNF-α production. Additionally, fewer CD8+ effector cells produced IFN-γ and TNF-α in NSCLC patients than in healthy subjects. Moreover, similar results were observed for CD4+ or CD8+ memory cells in NSCLC patients for the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that the function of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in NSCLC patients is compromised or dysregulated. The development of vaccines and antitumor immunotherapy may be essential for the treatment of lung cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Sun Yat-Sen University, Ministry of Education, The Institute of Immunology of Zhong Shan Medical School, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhong Shan Two Road, Guang Zhou, Guang Dong, 510000, China.
authors.forename: Si Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhong Shan Two Road, Guang Zhou, Guang Dong, 510000, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhong Shan Two Road, Guang Zhou, Guang Dong, 510000, China.
authors.forename: Chuan Gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhong Shan Two Road, Guang Zhou, Guang Dong, 510000, China.
authors.forename: Jian Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Sun Yat-Sen University, Ministry of Education, The Institute of Immunology of Zhong Shan Medical School, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhong Shan Two Road, Guang Zhou, Guang Dong, 510000, China. haihong33@163.com.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA. rfwang888@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: RongFu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Human memory T cell; Lung cancer