ObjectiveTo investigate the levels of regulatory T cells (Treg) and FoxP3 gene in patients with gastric cancer before and after operation. MethodsTwenty patients with definite diagnosis of gastric cancer and 15 healthy volunteers were selected. The levels of Treg and T cell subsets in peripheral blood were determined by detecting of CD4 and CD25 with immunefluorescence stain and flow cytometry, the expressions of FoxP3 mRNA in these Treg were detected by RTPCR technique. The expression of FoxP3 protein in the gastric cancer tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry assay. ResultsThe percentage of Treg cells in total CD4+ T isolated from the patients with gastric cancer was higher than that of healthy volunteers 〔(19.39±5.58)% versus (9.91±3.23)%, Plt;0.01〕, and it markedly decreased after operation 〔（13.50±5.93）% versus (19.39±5.58)%, Plt;0.05〕. The FoxP3 mRNA expression in the patients with gastric cancer was also higher than that of healthy volunteers (0.86±0.03 versus 0.64±0.02, Plt;0.01), and decreased after operation (0.73±0.04 versus 0.86±0.03, Plt;0.05). The percentage of CD4+T cell in mononucleocytes of peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer was significantly lower than that of healthy volunteers (Plt;0.01), but the difference was not significant between before and after operation. FoxP3 protein expressed in cytoplasm of 13 patients with gastric cancer, in which bly positive in 2 cases, middle positive in 6 cases, weakly positive in 5 cases. FoxP3 protein didn’t express in cytoplasm of 7 patients with gastric cancer. ConclusionsTreg may have a significant effect on the onset and development of gastric cancer through immunosuppressive effect. Tumor tissue is an important initiating agent on Treg proliferation.
Objective To investigate the suppression effect and mechanism of Astilbin on lung allograft rejection in rats, in order to know the function of Astilbin on rats’ lung acute rejection. Methods The model of rat left lung transplantation was set up. Sixty lung transplanted rats were divided into two groups randomly, control group: rats were fed with normal saline 1ml per day, experimental group: rats were fed with Astilbin 1mg/kg per day. Survival time, transforming rate of T cells in spleen, activity of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in spleen lymph cells and apoptosis of T cells were observed. Changes in ultrastructure of pulmonary arteries were observed by electron microscope. Results The survival time in experimental group was prolonged than that in control group (25.4±2.1 d vs. 13.4±1.2 d;t=2.042, Plt;0.05）. Transforming rate of T cells of spleen in experimental group was significant lower than that in control group (23 465.8±8 783.4 cpm vs. 74 567.3±12 874.6 cpm; t=2.284，Plt;0.05）.Activity of IL-2 of spleen lymph cells in experimental group was significant lower than that in control group (425±2.65U/ml vs. 23.46±1.82U/ml; t=3.165, Plt;0.01).Effectively derive apoptosis of activated T cells in acute rejection were observed in experimental group, the ultrastructure of pulmonary arteries showed attenuated injury in experimental group. Conclusion Astilbin decreased the IL-2 concentration in plasma and induced the apoptosis in activated T cells, then suppressed the acute rejection of lung allograft and prolonged the survival period of lung transplantation rats.
Objective To study the effects of adenosine 2A receptor activation on activation, proliferation, and toxicity of T lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro. Methods A model of activated T cells was established by stimulating the cells with PHA. Those T cells were treated with different concentrations of adenosine 2A receptors agonist (0.01 μmol/L, 0.1 μmol/L, 1 μmol/L, and 10 μmol/L CGS21680). The expressions of CD69, CD25 and proliferation of T cells were measured by fluorescent antibody stain and flow cytometry. ELISA method was used to detect IL-2 and INF-γ levels. Results All concentrations of CGS21680 significantly inhibited the expressions of CD25 and CD69 on PHA-stimulated T cells surface and proliferation of T cells （Plt;0.05， Plt;0.01）. IL-2 and INF-γ secreted by T cells were significantly suppressed, too （Plt;0.01）. Conclusion Activation of adenosine 2A receptor can effectively inhibit the activation, proliferation, and toxicity of T cells in vitro.
Objective To investigate the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Treg in peripheral blood of patients with severe multiple trauma and systemic inflammatory response syndrome（SIRS） and its effects on cellular immunity and secondary infection.Metheds Peripheral blood of 23 patients with severe multiple trauma was collected in 24 h after SIRS was diagnosed，and flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Treg and CD4/CD8 ratio.Simultaneously，in order to explore the cell proliferation，silver staining was used to determine Ag-NORs of leukomonocyte in peripheral blood represented by IS%.In order to investigate the infection in patients，sputum and secretion sample were collected for bacteriological examination on 1 and 5 day after SIRS was established.Forty healthy volunteers were enrolled as control.Results Compared with the control，the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Treg was significant higher[（14.21±3.43）% vs（9.53±3.22），Plt;0.01] and the ratio of CD4/CD8 and IS% were significant lower in patients with severe multiple trauma[（5.94±0.66）% vs（6.74±0.95）%，（1.22±0.25）% vs（1.72±0.36）%，respectively，both Plt;0.01].In those patients（n=14） who developed secondary infection，Treg% was significant higher [（18.69±4.21）% vs（12.58±2.49）%，Plt;0.01]，while IS% and CD4/CD8 were significant lower [（5.79±0.68）% vs（6.15±0.57）%，（1.15±0.25）% vs（1.39±0.25）%，both Plt;0.01].compared to the patients without secondary infection Conlusion CD4+CD25+ Treg is valuable to estimate the cellular immunity and predict secondary infection in patients with severe multiple trauma.
Autoimmune ocular diseases are a type of inflammatory eye condition characterized by the involvement of the immune response. This includes various types disease such as autoimmune uveitis, thyroid-associated eye disease, and primary Sj?gren's syndrome. In recent years, breakthroughs have been achieved in inducing transplant tolerance, understanding tumor immune evasion, and preventing autoimmune diseases using immune checkpoint molecules. Negative immune checkpoints effectively control disease progression by inhibiting T cell proliferation, reducing inflammatory cytokine levels, and ultimately regulating autoimmune balance. Therefore, the negative immune checkpoint molecules are expected to be used as a new therapeutic target in the future, and the combination therapy through the combination of negative immune checkpoint drugs is expected to become an important direction to improve the efficacy of the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of intraoperative lymphatic chemotherapy (LC) on immune functions of patients after esophageal carcinoma resection. MethodsPatients who underwent intraoperative LC during esophageal carcinoma resection in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital from March to October,2013 were prospectively included in this study, and patients who underwent esophageal carcinoma resection without intraoperative LC during the same period were also included as the control group. All the patients were divided into a pacitaxel LC group,a fluorouracil LC group,and a control group without LC. A total of 37 patients were included in this study including 25 male and 12 female patients with their age of 42-76 (61.89±7.95) years. There were 15 patients in the pacitaxel LC group,15 patients in the fluorouracil LC group,and 7 patients in the control group. Representative indexes of humoral immunity and cellular immunity in peripheral blood of all the patients were examined preoperatively and on the third and seventh postoperative day, and then compared among the 3 groups. ResultsAll the immune indexes of the 3 groups decreased after surgery to different extent. There was no statistical difference in preoperative and postoperative difference of immunoglobulin concentration between LC groups and the control group (P>0.05). CD8+ T cell count recovered more rapidly after surgery in LC groups than the control group. CD3+ T cells recovered most rapidly after surgery in the fluorouracil LC group. ConclusionLC is beneficial for the recovery of cytotoxic effects of T lymphocytes but may not promote humoral immunity for patients after esophageal carcinoma resection.
Objective To investigate the relationship between blood CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells ( Treg cells) and cell immunity in patients with sepsis and its prognostic value.Methods 27 patients with sepsis admitted during August 2007 and August 2008 in ICU were enrolled, while 40 healthy volunteers served as control. According to the clinical outcome after 28 days’ treatment, the sepsis patients were assigned to a death group( n=8) and a survival group ( n =19) . Blood Treg% and CD4 /CD8 were detected by flow cytometry and total AgNOR area/nucleus area per cell ( IS%) was measured by silver nitrate staining and image processing. Results The Treg% in the patients with sepsis was significant higher than that in the normal control [ ( 5. 61 ±1. 60) % vs. ( 0. 78 ±0. 23) % , P lt; 0. 01 ] , while the level of CD4 /CD8 and IS% were significant lower[ CD4 /CD8: ( 1. 09 ±0. 30) vs. ( 1. 71 ±0. 36) , IS% : ( 5. 19 ±1. 07) % vs. ( 6. 76 ±0. 92) % , both P lt; 0. 01] . Significant correlations were found between Treg% and CD4 /CD8( r= - 0. 484, P lt;0. 01) , and between Treg% and IS% ( r = - 0. 588, P lt;0. 01) . Compared with the survival group, Treg% was significant higher [ ( 7. 09 ±1. 17) % vs. ( 5. 00 ±1. 33) % , P lt; 0. 01] , and CD4 /CD8 and IS% were significant lower[ CD4 /CD8: ( 0. 87 ±0. 22) vs. ( 1. 18 ±0. 29) , IS% : ( 3. 97 ±0. 42) % vs. ( 5. 71 ±0. 81) % , both P lt; 0. 01] in the death group. Conlusion Blood Treg% level can reflect the cell immune state of patients with sepsis and is of clinical value to assess the prognosis.
Objective To investigate the effects of ulinastatin on Treg/Th17 and immune status in patients with severe sepsis.Methods A total of 80 patients with severe sepsis, who were hospitalized in ICU during October 2011 to July 2012, were randomly divided into a routine group and a ulinastatin group. The patients in the ulinastatin group were intravenously administered 30mg ulinastatin three times per day for 5 days in addition to routine bundle treatment. The expression of Treg, Th17 and HLA-DR were detected on the first day in ICU and 5 days after treatment. 20 healthy individuals served as controls. Results Compared with the control group, the severe sepsis group had overexpression of Treg and Th17 ( P lt;0. 01) , higher ratio of Treg/Th17( P lt;0. 01) , and decreased HLA-DR expression of CD14 monocyte ( P lt; 0. 01) . In the severe sepsis patients, ulinastatin injection reduced the abnormal expression of Treg and Th17 ( P lt; 0. 01) , decreased the ratio of Treg/Th17( P lt; 0. 01) , and improved the expression of HLA-DR ( P lt; 0. 01) more effectively compared with the routine treatment. Ulinastatin also lowered 28-day mortality of the patients with sepsis, but the difference between the ulinastatin group and the routine group was not significant. Conclusions In severe sepsis patients, there were abnormal overexpression of Treg and Th17, imbalance of Treg/Th17, and underexpression of HLA-DR which imply an immune suppression. Ulinastatin can decrease the expression of Treg and Th17, inverses the ratio of Treg/Th17, and improve the expression of HLA-DR, so as to improve the prognosis of severe sepsis patients.
ObjectiveTo approach the role of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the maintenance of immunotolerance in mouse liver allograft. MethodsThe mouse orthotopic liver transplantation was performed. After the liver transplantation immunotolerance induction, antiCD25 monoclonal antibody (PC61) was injected into the recipients with a delayed timing to remove the CD4+CD25+ T cells. The percentage of CD4+CD25+ T cells and the expression of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (Foxp3) in the recipients were examined. Furthermore, the survival time of the recipient was observed. ResultsC3H/HeJ recipients receiving DBA/2 hepatic allografts survived over 70 d as in the syngeneic liver transplantation (C3H/HeJ recipients receiving C3H/HeJ hepatic grafts). With various protocols of the delayed PC61 treatment, the CD4+CD25+ T cell was completely disappeared as observed. However, the removal of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells after the induction of transplantation immunotolerance did not affect the survival of hepatic allografts. ConclusionCD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells are not essential for the maintenance of spontaneous mouse liver transplantation immunotolerance.
Objective To investigate the changes of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T cells( Treg) in peripheral blood of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD( AECOPD) , and analyze the relationship of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg with insulin resistance. Methods A total of 79 patients with AECOPD were divided into four groups according to disease severity( 11 cases in stage Ⅰ,31 cases in stage Ⅱ,28 cases in stage Ⅲ, an 9 cases in stage Ⅳ) .42 healthy volunteers were recruited as control. Fast blood glucose( FBG) and fast insulin( FINS) were measured for calculating the insulin resistance index. The CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg were detected by flow cytometry. The relationship between the proportion and number of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg with insulin resistance was statistically analyzed. Results Compared with the healthy control group, the levels of FBG, FINS, and insulin resistance index in the AECOPD patients were significantly higher ( P lt; 0. 01, P lt; 0. 05) . The proportion and number of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg in peripheral blood decreased significantly( P lt; 0. 01, P lt; 0. 05) . The insulin resistance index increased with the severity of AECOPD while the proportion and number of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg in peripheral blood decreased. The insulin resistance index in the AECOPD patients of stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ were higher than those of stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ. The proportion and number of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg in the AECOPD patients of stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly lower than those of stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ. Both the proportion and number of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg were negatively correlated with insulin resistance ( r = - 0. 633, - 0. 871, P lt; 0. 01) . Conclusions CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells might may play important role in modulating insulin resistance in AECOPD. The more serious the disease, the lower the CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg and the worse insulin resistance.