宫颈癌患者临床分期与免疫功能的关系研究

目的比较不同分期的宫颈癌患者的免疫功能状况,研究两者之间的相关性。方法将0~Ⅳ期宫颈患者患者(观察组)共70例,与同期健康女性(对照组)60例纳入研究,比较2组患者外周血中T淋巴细胞和NK细胞数量。结果宫颈癌患者外周血中的CD3+、CD3+CD4+和NK细胞数量以及CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+比值均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。宫颈癌患者分期和T细胞亚群及NK细胞数量有相关性(P<0.05)。结论宫颈癌患者存在免疫功能下降的状况,并且分期越晚免疫功能越差,同时T细胞亚群数量及比例、NK细胞数量可以作为检测宫颈癌患者免疫功能的指标。     

乳腺癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞及NK细胞的检测及其临床意义

目的:探讨乳腺癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群和NK细胞活性的临床意义。方法:采用流式细胞仪测定乳腺癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群和NK细胞的活性,以正常人作对照。结果:乳腺癌患者外周血CD3 ,CD4 ,NK细胞数量及CD4 /CD8 比值较正常对照组均明显下降(P<0.05),而CD8 细胞水平显著升高。外周血T淋巴细胞亚群和NK细胞数量的改变与乳腺癌临床病理指标有关,分期越晚,CD3 细胞、CD4 细胞、CD4 /CD8 细胞比值及NK细胞数量越低,CD8 细胞水平越高;I、II期乳腺癌患者与III、IV期患者之间有显著差异(P<0.05)。结论:乳腺癌患者细胞免疫功能低下,且临床病理分期越晚,其免疫功能越低,检测T淋巴细胞亚群、NK细胞可用于乳腺癌患者的免疫监测。     

宫颈癌患者新辅助化疗与放疗前后外周血T细胞亚群变化的研究

目的 探讨宫颈癌患者新辅助化疗与放疗前后外周血T细胞亚群变化.方法 采用流式细胞仪技术,检测外周血中T细胞亚群、NK细胞含量,并与对照组比较.结果 宫颈癌治疗前CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/ CD8+的含量均较对照组低,无显著性差异(P＞0.05);NK值较对照组高,有显著性差异( P＜0.05);不同分期间比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05).化疗后CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/ CD8+的含量和NK值均逐渐降低,与治疗前比较有显著性差异(P＜0.05);放疗后CD3+含量、NK值继续下降,CD4+、CD8+含量和CD4+/ CD8+比值略有升高,与治疗前比较有显著性差异(P＜0.05);而化疗后和放疗后外周血中T细胞亚群、NK细胞含量比较均无显著性差异(P＞0.05).结论 新辅助化疗与放射治疗会降低宿主机体免疫功能,提示化疗和放疗期间应及时辅以免疫治疗,以增强机体的免疫功能.     

Ⅲ期～Ⅳ期肺癌患者免疫功能的临床研究

目的:探讨Ⅲ期～Ⅳ期肺癌患者免疫功能状态及临床分期与免疫功能的关系.方法:对30例经病理组织学证实的Ⅲ期～Ⅳ期肺癌患者外周血T细胞亚群百分率和NK细胞数进行检测,并以30例自愿者正常人作对照.结果:Ⅲ期～Ⅳ期肺癌患者CD3+、CD4+细胞值,CD4+/CD8+比值下降,且NK细胞活性显著降低,CD8+细胞值显著高于对照组,而Ⅳ期比Ⅲ期患者CD3+、CD4+、CD8+细胞值降低,CD4+/CD8+比值增高,NK细胞活性增加(P＜0.01).结论:Ⅲ期～Ⅳ期肺癌患者免疫功能均低于正常值,Ⅳ期患者的CD3+、CD4+、CD8+细胞值随期别增高而降低,CD4+/CD8+比值、NK细胞活性随治疗方式不同而升高.     

流式细胞术对食管癌、贲门癌患者T细胞亚群的分析

目的采用流式细胞术方法检测食管癌、贲门癌患者细胞免疫功能。方法应用三色免疫荧光流式细胞仪测定145名食管癌和贲门癌患者及18例正常对照者外周血T细胞亚群CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、NK细胞、CD4+/CD8+比值。结合临床病理结果探讨二者之间的关系。结果(1)食管癌、贲门癌患者外周血中CD8+T淋巴细胞比例较正常对照组明显升高(P=0.030);CD3+、CD4+亚群较正常值降低,但是没有统计学差异。NK细胞两组比较也没有显著性差异;(2)早期(0、Ⅰ期)食管癌、贲门癌病人和健康对照组之间T细胞各亚群相比没有统计学差异;中、晚期(Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ期)食管癌、贲门癌病人和健康对照组相比CD4+明显降低(P=0.023);CD8+则明显升高(P=0.021);CD4+/CD8+较正常有所下降,但是没有显著性差异;淋巴结阴性患者和淋巴结阳性患者比较T细胞各亚群没有明显差异。结论外周血T细胞亚群的检测有助于提高对食管癌患者的病情,临床分期以及机体免疫状态的判断,晚期食管癌患者机体免疫状态成紊乱型改变。     

急性白血病患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群和调节性T细胞的检测及临床意义

目的:研究急性白血病患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群、调节性T细胞水平的变化及临床意义.方法: 采用流式细胞仪对60例急性白血病(AL)患者[急性髓细胞性白血病(AML)30例、急性淋巴细胞性白血病(ALL)30例]及40例正常人外周血淋巴细胞亚群及调节性T细胞水平进行检测.结果: 初诊AL组与正常对照组比较,CD3+ T淋巴细胞百分比、CD4+T淋巴细胞百分比、CD4+/CD8+ 比值及CD16+/56+ NK细胞百分比均明显降低( P<0.05) ;CD8+ T 淋巴细胞百分比与CD19+ B淋巴细胞百分比均明显升高(P均 <0.01).ALL组CD4+T淋巴细胞百分比及CD4+/CD8+ 比值明显低于AML组( P<0.01).与对照组相比较,初诊AL患者外周血CD4+CD25+ T细胞和CD4+CD25high Treg 细胞均明显升高(P<0.01).结论: AL患者细胞免疫功能明显异常;与AML患者相比,ALL患者细胞免疫功能更为低下.CD4+CD25 high Treg细胞增多可能是AL患者免疫功能受抑的重要原因之一.淋巴细胞亚群及调节性T细胞水平检测在评价AL疗效及判断预后方面具有一定的临床价值.     

外周血T淋巴细胞亚群与接受卡瑞利珠单抗治疗的晚期非小细胞肺癌患者预后的关系

目的 探索外周血T淋巴细胞亚群与接受卡瑞利珠单抗治疗的晚期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）患者预后的关系。方法 回顾性收集接受卡瑞利珠单抗治疗的88例晚期NSCLC患者资料。分别收集患者治疗前和治疗后2个月的外周血淋巴细胞亚群相对计数,使用Kaplan-Meier曲线和Cox回归分析研究外周血T淋巴细胞亚群与PFS和OS之间的关系。结果 有反应组患者治疗前外周血CD4+/CD8+比值高于无反应组（P=0.038）,而CD8+T淋巴细胞百分比低于无反应组（P=0.036）;生存分析显示治疗前CD4+/CD8+比值越高,患者PFS和OS越长（P=0.001,P=0.023）。多变量Cox分析显示,治疗前CD4+/CD8+比值是预测PFS和OS的因素。此外,治疗后CD4+/CD8+比值、CD4+T淋巴细胞百分比越高,患者PFS越长（P=0.005,0.015）;CD8+T淋巴细胞百分比越低,患者PFS和OS越长（P=0.001,P=0.016）。结论 外周血CD4+/CD8+比值能够预测接受卡瑞利珠单抗治疗的NSCLC患者的生存情况。     

化疗对鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤患者细胞免疫功能的影响

目的:通过对鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤患者化疗前、后外周血T 淋巴细胞各亚群及NK细胞检测来探讨化疗对其细胞免疫功能的影响。方法:分组对照研究,鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤患者（实验组）41例,分别在化疗前及化疗2 个周期结束后10d 两次检测外周血T 淋巴细胞各亚群及NK细胞数目。正常健康组35例（对照组）。 对相关实验结果进行统计学分析。结果:鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤患者化疗前与正常健康组相比,T 淋巴细胞亚群比例紊乱,CD3+、CD4+比例和CD4+/CD 8+比值及NK细胞明显下降,CD8+比例及CD4+CD25+调节性T 细胞（Tregulatory cells ,Treg ）明显升高（P<0.05）。 经过2 个周期的化疗治疗,化疗有效组化疗后CD3+、CD4+比例、NK细胞比例、CD4+/CD 8+比化疗前明显升高（P<0.05）,CD8+比例、CD4+CD25+Treg 明显下降（P<0.05）。 化疗有效组化疗后除CD4+、CD8+比例外,其他指标与正常健康组相比差别均无统计学意义（P>0.05）;而无效组患者化疗后CD4+比例、CD8+比例、CD4+/CD 8+比值、NK细胞数目比化疗前则进一步下降（P<0.05）。 结论:鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤患者细胞免疫功能低下,T 淋巴细胞亚群比例紊乱,NK细胞明显下降。有效化疗可通过杀伤、诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,减轻肿瘤负荷,减少CD4+CD25+Treg ,排除某些免疫抑制因素;改善了患者的细胞免疫功能,化疗无效患者其细胞免疫功能则继续恶化。通过检测患者的T 淋巴细胞各亚群及NK细胞数变化可以反映患者的细胞免疫功能状态,对指导临床治疗、判断预后有重要的意义。      

恶性淋巴瘤患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群变化的讨论

目的探讨恶性淋巴瘤患者T淋巴细胞亚群的变化特点。方法采用流式细胞术检测24例各型恶性淋巴瘤患者及20例正常人的外周血中T淋巴细胞(CD3+细胞)、辅助性T细胞(CD4+)、抑制性细胞毒T细胞(CD3+/CD8+)、NK细胞(CD3-/CD16+56)和NKT细胞(CD3+/CD16+56),对两者百分比进行比较分析。结果患者组中辅助性T细胞(CD3+/CD4+/CD8-)的百分比和绝对值明显低于正常对照组(P0.01),而患者组中CD4/CD8细胞亦明显低于正常对照组(P0.01)。结论在恶性淋巴瘤发生发展的过程中了解淋巴细胞亚群的变化,可为后期病情判断及可能采取的相关治疗提供依据。     

食管鳞癌患者手术前后外周血T细胞亚群与NK、NKT细胞检测的临床意义

目的:分析食管鳞癌患者手术前后外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群与NK、NKT细胞变化规律及其临床意义.方法:应用流式细胞术检测78例食管鳞癌患者外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群及NK、NKT细胞的水平.结果:肿瘤切除术前NKT细胞水平在中低分化组较高分化组显著下降(P<0.05);术后外周血中CD8+T细胞含量明显降低(P<0.01),CIM+/CD8+比值显著升高(P<0.01),同时NK与NKT细胞水平较术前显著下降(P<0.01).结论:手术可一定程度改善患者机体免疫功能,检查手术前后外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及NK、NKT细胞水平有助于患者的细胞免疫功能监测,为食管鳞癌临床治疗提供依据.     

胰腺癌患者围手术期T细胞亚群和NK细胞活性的动态观察

目的探讨胰腺癌患者围手术期外周血T细胞亚群、NK细胞的变化及其临床意义.方法采用流式细胞术法分别测定58例胰腺癌患者手术前后外周血T细胞亚群CD4 、CD8 和NK细胞的水平,并与健康对照组比较分析.结果胰腺癌组治疗前外周血CD4 、CD4 /CD8 和NK细胞均降低,而CD8 增高,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01);且与淋巴结转移和肿瘤临床TNM分期有显著相关性.行根治性手术组术后CD4 、CD4 /CD8 和NK细胞均有显著性增高(P<0.05),CD8 显著性降低(P<0.05);而姑息性手术组CD4 、CD4 /CD8 和NK细胞则无显著性增高(P>0.05),CD8 无显著性降低(P>0.05).结论胰腺癌患者血清T细胞亚群和NK细胞的变化与肿瘤的浸润转移和病程有关,检测胰腺癌患者血清T细胞亚群和NK细胞的变化,有助于评估患者的疗效和预后.     

Skewed immunological balance between Th17 (CD4+IL17A+) and Treg (CD4+CD25+FOXP3+) cells in human oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Several studies have documented modulation of Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells in various human malignancies which may vary with the type and extent of the disease. However, such data in patients with oral cancer is scarce and hence the current study was designed to elaborate the immunological balance between these two T cell subsets in oral cancer.

Methods and results

We analyzed various T cell subsets in the peripheral blood of 45 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and 40 healthy volunteers. We found that, compared with the healthy controls, patients had a significantly (p?<?0.0001) higher proportion of both Th17 (CD4⁺IL17A⁺) and Treg (CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺) cells, which further showed a reciprocal balance in relation to clinico-pathological parameters in patients. We also detected a circulating CD8⁺ subset of these cells in both patients and healthy controls, although the difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant. Higher frequencies of Th17 cells were found in patients with early stages and without lymph node involvement, while an increased prevalence of Tregs was associated with higher clinical stages and lymph node involvement. Moreover, Th17 cells were quantitatively and positively correlated to CD4⁺T and CD8⁺T cells and inversely correlated with Tregs. Contrarily, Tregs showed a negative association with CD4⁺T and CD8⁺T cells.

Conclusions

Our results suggest an increase in Th17/Tregs ratio in early stages and a decrease in this ratio in higher stages of oral cancer. Such counter regulation of Th17 and Tregs may be a significant prognostic factor in oral cancer patients.     

T- and NK-cell populations with regulatory phenotype and markers of apoptosis in circulating lymphocytes of patients with CIN3 or microcarcinoma of the cervix: evidence for potential mechanisms of immune suppression

Background

Processes and mechanisms responsible for systemic immune suppression in early-stage cervical cancer remain substantially underinvestigated. In this work, we focused on studying the frequencies of circulating regulatory T (CD4 and CD8 Tregs) and NK (NKregs) cells in parallel with assessment of apoptotic markers expression in T cells from patients with preinvasive and microinvasive cervical cancer, with the aim to determine whether up-regulation of apoptosis-associated markers in Т lymphocytes accompanies cervical cancer development and correlates with the change in percentages of regulatory cell populations at systemic level during the initial stages of invasive cervical cancer progression.

Methods

Fourty two women with histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3, including carcinoma in situ) or cervical cancer (stage IA) and 30 healthy women (control) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood samples were taken immediately before surgery or any treatment and immediately subjected to multicolor flow cytometry.

Results

Analysis of a combination of CD4/CD8, CD25, CD127, and FoxP3 markers revealed a statistically significant increase in the frequencies of Tregs within both the CD4 and CD8 subsets of circulating lymphocytes in patients with CIN3 and stage IA cancer. In contrast, lower numbers of NKregs (defined as CD16^dim/negCD56^bright subpopulation) and increased CD56^dim/CD56^bright NK ratio were found in patients compared to controls, with the percentage of CD16^brightCD56^dim cells (major subtype of circulating NKs) showing no difference. Patients also exhibited an increased expression of CD95 in total peripheral blood T lymphocytes, along with increased level of Annexin V binding to CD95-positive cells, suggesting higher susceptibility of T cells to apoptosis and potential involvement of CD95-dependent pathway in early-stage cervical cancer. Differential analysis of CD4 and CD8 T cells revealed different trends in the change of CD95 expression, confirming that this change likely has different functional significance for these two subsets. A search for correlations between the phenotypic parameters analyzed in this study was performed to demonstrate that women with early neoplastic lesions of the cervix, such as carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma, displayed a coordinated increase in expression of Treg markers in circulating lymphocytes, along with more pronounced cross-relationships between Treg numbers, CD95 expression on T cells, and apoptosis, compared to the control group.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that a diversity of immune regulatory mechanisms that provide support for initial stages of invasive growth in cervical cancer patients includes systemic changes in the ratios between the principal regulatory and effector lymphocyte populations both within adaptive and innate immunity.

     

Numbers and cytotoxicities of CD3+CD56+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia

Recent reports have highlighted the role of cellular immunity in anti-tumor defenses. T lymphocytes are known to play important part in anti-cancer immunity. The number and function of T lymphocytes are altered in chronic leukemia patients. CD3⁺CD56⁺ T lymphocytes have also been found to be abnormal in cancer patients. We therefore investigated changes in the number and cytotoxicity of CD3⁺CD56⁺ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of acute leukemia (AL) patients (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia), to improve our understanding of the role of this T lymphocyte subset. We analyzed CD3⁺CD56⁺ T lymphocyte numbers and cytotoxicities in healthy controls, AL patients, and AL patients with complete remission. Lymphocyte counts were performed in peripheral blood and flow cytometry was used to determine cell numbers and cytotoxicities. The absolute number of CD3⁺CD56⁺ T lymphocytes was increased in AL patients (including acute myeloid [AML] and acute lymphocytic leukemia [ALL]) compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05), but their functioning was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The number of CD3⁺CD56⁺ T lymphocytes in AML and ALL patients who achieved remission following chemotherapy was close to healthy controls (P > 0.05), but their functioning was still significantly reduced (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of CD3⁺CD56⁺ T lymphocytes increased significantly in AML patients with increased peripheral blood white blood cell (WBC) counts, and in ALL patients without increased WBCs. These results suggest that cellular immunity may respond to AML and ALL, but that lymphocyte cytotoxicity remains impaired. Dysfunction of CD3⁺CD56⁺ T lymphocytes in AML and ALL patients may contribute to the failure of the host immune response against leukemic blasts.     

Prognostic value of CD57<Superscript>+</Superscript> T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced gastric cancer

Background  Natural killer (NK)-like T cells comprising CD56⁺ T cells and CD57⁺ T cells belong to a subset of CD1d-independent NKT cells playing an important role in regulating immune responses. Although NK-like T cells are reported to increase in patients with advanced gastric carcinomas, it remains unknown how NK-like T cells are involved in disease progression in gastric cancer patients. Methods  The proportions of Th1 cells (interferon [IFN]-γ-producing CD4⁺ T cells), Th2 cells (IL-4-producing CD4⁺ T cells), and NK-like T cells (CD56⁺ T cells and CD57⁺ T cells) in the peripheral blood of 48 gastric cancer patients and 20 healthy controls were measured by two-color flow cytometry analysis and by intracellular cytokine analysis to investigate an association of these immune cells with the survival rate of gastric cancer patients. Results  Univariate analysis showed that Th1 cells and CD57⁺ T cells, as well as some clinicopathological factors, significantly influenced the survival rate. CD57-high (≧18%) patients survived for a significantly shorter period after surgery compared to CD57-low patients (P = 0.046; Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test) in the stage III–IV patients, but not in the stage I–II patients. Further, multivariate analysis showed that lymphatic invasion was a statistically significant independent risk factor in all the gastric cancer patients, but the proportion of CD57⁺ T cells as well as depth of tumor were statistically significant independent risk factors in patients with advanced carcinomas (stage III–IV). Conclusion  An increased proportion (≧18%) of CD57⁺ T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced gastric carcinomas could indicate a poor prognosis.     

Silent NK/T cell reactions to dasatinib during sustained deep molecular response before cessation are associated with longer treatment‐free remission

This study presents the final report of the multicenter, prospective tyrosine kinase inhibitor discontinuation study, D‐STOP, after a 3‐year follow‐up of 54 patients with chronic CML who discontinued dasatinib after a sustained deep molecular response (DMR) for ≥2 years with dasatinib treatment. Estimated treatment‐free remission (TFR) rates at 12 and 36 months were 63.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 48.7‐74.3] and 59.3% (95% CI: 45.0‐71.0), respectively. CD3^?CD56⁺ NK, CD16⁺CD56⁺ NK, and CD57⁺CD56⁺ NK large granular lymphocyte (NK‐LGL), CD8⁺CD4^– cytotoxic T cell, and CD57⁺CD3⁺ T‐LGL cell numbers were relatively elevated throughout the 24‐month consolidation only in failed patients who molecularly relapsed within 12 months. In successful patients, these subsets elevated transiently after 12 months, but returned to basal levels after 24‐month consolidation. Therefore, smaller changes in NK/T, particularly the NK subset throughout consolidation, reflected higher TFR rates. TFR rates of those patients exhibiting elevation in CD3^?CD56⁺ NK >376 cells/μL, CD16⁺CD56⁺ NK > 241 cells/μL, or CD57⁺CD56⁺ NK‐LGL >242 cells/μL during consolidation compared with others were 26.7% (8.3%‐49.6%) vs 78.3% (55.4%‐90.3%), HR 0.032 (0.0027‐0.38; P = .0064), 31.2% (11.4%‐53.6%) vs 85.0% (60.4%‐94.9%), HR 0.039 (0.0031‐0.48; P = .011), or 36.8% (16.5%‐57.5%) vs 77.3% (53.7%‐89.8%), HR 0.21 (0.065‐0.69; P = .010), respectively. Therefore, silent responses of T/NK subsets to dasatinib throughout consolidation were significant for longer TFR. Elevated NK/T, particularly NK lymphocytes responsive to dasatinib, may be immunologically insufficient to maintain TFR. Their decline, subsequently replaced by altered lymphocyte population with less response to dasatinib during sustained DMR, might be immunologically significant. (D‐STOP, NCT01627132).     

大肠癌患者外周血T细胞亚群和NK细胞活性检测的临床意义

目的 探讨大肠癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及NK细胞活性检测的临床意义。方法 采用SAP法及LDH释放法,对57例大肠癌患者和33例正常人的外周血T细胞亚群及NK细胞活性进行检测。结果 大肠癌患者CD4^ 细胞值、CD4^ /CD8^ 比值下降且NK细胞活性显著降低,CD8^ 细胞值显著高于对照组;这种变化随临床分期的增高更加显著（P＜0.05）;化疗后CD4^ 细胞值、CD4^＋／CD8^ 比值的下降和NK细胞活性的降低及CD8^＋细胞值的增高更为突出（P＜0.01）;术后发生转移的患者,CD4^＋细胞值、CD4^＋／CD8^＋比值下降及NK细胞活性下降,CD8^＋细胞值再回升。结论 大肠癌患者细胞免疫功能明显紊乱,并随病情进展及肿瘤转移而加重,切除肿瘤有助于改善患者细胞免疫功能,化疗时辅以免疫治疗是必要的。     

Changes in peripheral lymphocyte subsets in patients after partial microwave ablation of the spleen for secondary splenomegaly and hypersplenism: A preliminary study

Purpose: Microwave ablation therapy for secondary splenomegaly and hypersplenism has been shown to be effective from pre-clinical animal models and clinical investigations. This study was performed to determine its effects on the status of peripheral lymphocyte subsets in patients receiving microwave ablation of the spleen.

Materials and methods: Ten patients with secondary splenomegaly and hypersplenism received microwave ablation of the spleen during laparoscopy or percutaneously under ultrasound guidance. The percentage peripheral blood T cells, B lymphocytes and NK cells were measured using flow cytometry before and on days 1, 3 and 7 after therapy, as well as 1 and 3 months afterwards.

Results: Percentages of CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ cells increased rapidly 1 month after therapy. There was no significant change in CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ or NK cells of the pre- and post-therapy levels and B lymphocytes increased significantly after therapy. In patients with an ablation volume (AV) less than 20% (group A), T cells increased 1 month after ablation but decreased 3 months after ablation. B lymphocytes increased significantly after surgery. Levels of NK cells were lower than that before therapy on each testing. In patients with 20–40% AV (group B), levels of T cells, B lymphocytes and NK cells showed an increase. Levels of CD4⁺ cells were significantly higher in group B than in group A, 3 months after therapy.

Conclusions: Microwave ablation therapy for splenomegaly and hypersplenism appears to have a favourable effect on peripheral lymphocyte subsets. A relationship may exist between the ablation volume and the level of peripheral lymphocyte subsets.     

The clinical significance of memory T cells and its subsets in gastric cancer

Background

Long life of memory T cell (Tm) determines its crucial role in the carcinogenesis and carcinogenic progression which usually take long time. The Tm compartment contains two populations, central memory T cells (Tcm) and effector memory T cells (Tem), based on their phenotypic markers, functional attributes, and migratory properties.

Methods

We investigated the subsets of the Tm in peripheral blood and tumor microenvironments in patients with gastric cancer by flow cytometry, and aimed to explore the correlation between the Tm and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer.

Results

The percentages of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Tm and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Tcm in peripheral blood from gastric cancer patients were statistically lower, whereas the percentages of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Tem were significantly higher than healthy controls. The proportion of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Tcm increased after tumor resection, while the percentage of the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Tem decreased significantly. Significant associations were detected between the peripheral CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Tm and clinical stage, as well as the CD8⁺ Tcm and clinical stage and nodal involvement. Tumor infiltrating CD8⁺ Tm expressed both central and effector memory phenotypes, whereas CD4⁺ Tm displayed predominantly an effector memory phenotype. Higher percentages of tumor infiltrating CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Tm were significantly associated with the early disease stage.

Conclusions

Tm and its subsets were good immune indicators for the disease stage of gastric cancer. The proportion of Tm subsets may reflect the immune suppressive and immune response to the tumor associated antigen.