Downregulation of IL-17-producing T cells is associated with regulatory T cell expansion and disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

作者：Jadidi Niaragh Farhad; Ghalamfarsa Ghasem; Memarian Ali; Asgarian Omran Hossein; Razavi Seyed Mohsen; Sarrafnejad Abdolfattah; Shokri Fazel^*

来源：Tumor Biology, 2013, 34(2): 929-940.

DOI：10.1007/s13277-012-0628-4

• Th17
• Tc17
• Regulatory T cell
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Interleukin 17

Little is known about the immunobiology of interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing T cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In this study, the frequencies of Th17, Tc17, and CD39(+) Treg cells were enumerated in peripheral T cells isolated from 40 CLL patients and 15 normal subjects by flow cytometry. Our results showed a lower frequency of Th17 and Tc17 cells in progressive (0.99 +/- 0.12 % of total CD3(+)CD4(+) cells; 0.44 +/- 0.09 % of total CD8(+) cells) compared to indolent patients (1.57 +/- 0.24 %, p = 0.042; 0.82 +/- 0.2 %, p = 0.09) and normal subjects (1.78 +/- 0.2 %, p = 0.003; 0.71 +/- 0.09 %, p = 0.04). Decrease in IL-17-producing T cells was associated with CD39(+) Treg cells expansion. Variation of IL-17-producing cells and Treg cells in indolent and progressive patients was neither associated to the expression levels of Th1- and Th2-specific transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 nor to the frequencies of IFN-gamma and IL-4-producing CD4(+) T cells in a selected number of samples. Additionally, suppressive potential of CD4(+) Treg was similar in CLL patients and normal subjects. Our data indicate that progression of CLL is associated with downregulation of IL-17-producing T cells and expansion of Treg cells, implying contribution of these subsets of T cells in the progression of CLL.

• 出版日期2013-4