Increased Populations of Regulatory T Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

摘要: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide with a poor prognosis and one for which immunotherapy remains viable option. Experimental tumor models have shown that regulatory T cells, functionally unique subset of can suppress effective antitumor immune responses. This suppression might explain outcome some protocols currently being used. A better understanding role cells in HCC important design future immunotherapy-based clinical protocols. We studied from 84 patients 74 controls, including healthy donors, chronic hepatitis B virus C infection nonviral liver cirrhosis. Regulatory were identified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting using panel antibodies real-time PCR analysis Foxp3 expression. Functional studies done to analyze their inhibitory role. Finally, analyzed tumors ascites HCC. Patients increased numbers CD4+CD25+ peripheral blood, express high levels HLA-DR, GITR, low or no CD45RA. These anergic toward T-cell receptor stimulation and, when cocultured activated CD4+CD25- potently suppressed proliferation cytokine secretion. There also tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes comparable increase blood. Our data suggest frequency play modulation response against could be immunotherapeutic approaches.