Detection and significance of TregFoxP3(+) and Th17 cells in peripheral blood of non-small cell lung cancer patients

作者：Li, Sha; Li, Yan; Qu, Xun; Liu, Xiaolin; Liang, Jing^*

来源：Archives of Medical Science, 2014, 10(2): 232-239.

DOI：10.5114/aoms.2014.42573

• carcinoma
• non-small cell lung
• TregFoxP3(+)
• ROR gamma t
• Th17

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between TregFoxP3(+) cells and Th17 cells and occurrence of lung cancer.
Material and methods: The proportions of TregFoxP3(+) and Th17 cells, the expression of FoxP3 and ROR gamma t mRNA, and the levels of related cell factors such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), interleukin IL-17 (IL-17) and IL-23 were determined respectively by flow cytometry analysis, real-time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and ELISA in peripheral blood of 18 healthy people and 26 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Results: The levels of TregFoxP3(+) and Th17, expression of FoxP3 and ROR gamma t mRNA, and ratios of TregFoxP3(+)/Th17 and FoxP3/ROR gamma t in peripheral blood with NSCLC were higher than those in healthy controls (p < 0.05). The proportion of Th17 cells from NSCLC patients was positively correlated with that of TregFoxP3(+) (r = 0.81, p < 0.05). The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrates that the increased level of TregFoxP3(+)/Th17 in the peripheral blood may be a useful indicator in early diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma. The TregFoxP3(+)/Th17 and FoxP3/ROR gamma t levels for patients in stage IV were higher than those of patients in stages I, II, and III (p < 0.05). The levels of TGF-beta, IL-17, and IL-23 were higher in NSCLC patients than those in healthy controls.
Conclusions: The results suggest that ratios of Treg/Th17 correlate with the stage of NSCLC.

• 出版日期2014-4
• 单位山东省千佛山医院; 山东大学