Tim-3在口腔鳞癌患者外周血NK细胞的表达及意义

目的:探讨T细胞免疫球蛋白粘蛋白分子-3(Tim-3)在口腔鳞癌患者外周血自然杀伤细胞(NK细胞)上的表达及其临床意义.方法:应用流式细胞仪检测72例口腔鳞癌患者和40例健康对照者外周血CD3-CD56+ NK细胞表面Tim-3表达水平,分析其与口腔鳞癌患者临床病理特征的关系.结果:口腔鳞癌患者外周血NK细胞的百分率为(9.30±2.52)％,显著低于健康对照组(17.36±3.15)％ (P＜0.001).口腔鳞癌患者外周血NK细胞表达Tim-3的百分率为(14.35±6.35)％,显著高于健康对照组(1.78±0.86)％(P＜0.001),且与肿瘤临床分期、分化程度及淋巴结转移显著相关(P＜0.01).结论:口腔鳞癌患者外周血NK细胞表达降低,Tim-3在口腔鳞癌NK细胞的表达上调可能与口腔鳞癌的发生发展有关.

Expression and clinical significance of Tim-3 in peripheral blood natural killer cells of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective:To detect the expression levels of T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) in peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to study their biological and clinical significance.Methods:The expression of Tim-3 in the CD3-CD56 + NK cells was examined in 72 patients with OSCC and 40 heathy controls (HC) by flow cytometry.The correlation of Tim-3 expression in NK cells with clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.Results:The proportion of CD3-CD56 + NK cells was significantly decreased in OSCC patients as compared with HC [(9.30 ± 2.52)％ vs (17.36 ± 3.15)％,P ＜ 0.001].The percentage of Tim-3 + CD3-CD56 + NK cells in OSCC patients was higher than that in HC [(14.35 ± 6.35) ％ vs (1.78 ± 0.86) ％,P ＜ 0.001].High percentage of Tim-3 + CD3-CD56 + NK cells was associated with cell differentiation,lymphatic metastasis and pathological stage of OSCC (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion:Lower proportion of NK cells and higher level of Tim-3 in peripheral blood NK cells may play a role in the development of OSCC.