The variation of CD4^sup +^CD25^sup +^ regulatory T cells in the periphery blood and tumor microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer patients and the downregulation effects induced by CpG ODN

• Published in: Targeted oncology 2011-09, Vol.6 (3), p.147
• Main Authors: Wang, Yan-ying, He, Xiao-ye, Cai, Ying-yun, Wang, Zhi-jun, Lu, Shao-hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1776-2596; 1776-260X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11523-011-0182-9

The aim of the study was to observe the variation of CD4^sup +^CD25^sup +^ regulatory T cells in periphery blood and tumor microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and the effects of CpG ODN. The proportion of CD4^sup +^CD25^sup +^ regulatory T cells, Foxp3 gene expression, levels of tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β) and immunoreactive fibronectin-γ (IFN-γ) in the periphery blood of 30 NSCLC patients and 30 healthy volunteers were compared. These indicators were compared before and after CpG ODN treatment. Foxp3 gene expression in the tumor microenvironment of NSCLC patients was also observed. The results showed CD4^sup +^CD25^sup +^ regulatory T cell proportion, Foxp3 expression and TGF-β levels in the periphery blood of NSCLC patients were higher than those of healthy volunteers (p