Abstract |
The status of the immune system of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is not yet sufficiently characterized. Clinically, B-CLL patients present immunodeficiency increasing along with disease progression and signs of autoimmunity. In the current study, we evaluated the expression of FOXP3 in CD4+CD25hi T regulatory lymphocytes (Treg) and their influence on immune response against tumor and viral antigens in the complex system of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In 80 B-CLL patients, the frequency of Treg (CD4+CD25hi FOXP3+) cells was significantly higher in B-CLL patients when compared to healthy volunteers (HV) and increased with the progression of the disease (median: 8.24% in stage A, 11.24% in stage B and 12.57% in stage C according to the Binet classification). The frequency of Treg showed no correlation with prognostic markers such as ZAP-70, CD38 and HLA-G. Notably, Treg frequency correlated with serum levels of TNF (r(2)=0.45, p=0.001). T-cell immune responses against epitopes derived from the tumor-associated antigens survivin, fibromodulin and RHAMM as well as from the influenza matrix protein were evaluated. Functionally, higher frequencies of Treg correlated with decreased T-cell responses against viral and tumor antigens. In conclusion, we detected higher frequencies of Treg in B-CLL patients than in HV. Furthermore, Treg constitute the crucial mechanism of immunosuppression in B-CLL patients.
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Authors | Krzysztof Giannopoulos, Michael Schmitt, Malgorzata Kowal, Paulina Wlasiuk, Agnieszka Bojarska-Junak, Jinfei Chen, Jacek Rolinski, Anna Dmoszynska |
Journal | Oncology reports
(Oncol Rep)
Vol. 20
Issue 3
Pg. 677-82
(Sep 2008)
ISSN: 1021-335X [Print] Greece |
PMID | 18695923
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- FOXP3 protein, human
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
- Peptide Fragments
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
- Interferon-gamma
- ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
- ZAP70 protein, human
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
(immunology, pathology)
- Female
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Interferon-gamma
(metabolism)
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell
(immunology, metabolism, pathology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Peptide Fragments
(metabolism)
- Prognosis
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
(metabolism)
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
(metabolism)
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
(immunology, metabolism, pathology)
- ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
(metabolism)
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