Th2 subset dominance among peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients with digestive cancers

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 177; no. 3; pp. 203 - 208
• Main Authors: Tabata, Tomoyuki, Hazama, Shoichi, Yoshino, Shigefumi, Oka, Masaaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.1999; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; AIDS/HIV; Anticoagulants; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biopsy; Blood; Blood transfusions; Cancer; CD3 antigen; CD4 antigen; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Digestive System Neoplasms - blood; Digestive System Neoplasms - immunology; Digestive System Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Flow Cytometry; Follow-Up Studies; Helper cells; Humans; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 4; Interleukin 6; Interleukins; Interleukins - biosynthesis; Intracellular; Intracellular Fluid - metabolism; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Magnetic resonance imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Peripheral blood; Retrospective Studies; Statistical analysis; Surgery; Th2 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - metabolism; Tumors; γ-Interferon; Florida; United States > US; California
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9610(99)00004-5

BACKGROUND: Two types of helper T cells (Th), which are categorized as Th1 and Th2 on the basis of cytokine production, have been reported. Th1 cells produce interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-γ, while Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10. We assessed the intracellular cytokine profiles of CD3/CD4 positive lymphocytes (CD4 + T-cells) in peripheral blood in patients with digestive cancers. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 50 patients with digestive cancers and 35 healthy volunteers. The proportions of CD4 + T-cells producing intracellular cytokines were determined using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentages (mean ± SD) of CD4 + T-cells producing IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in the cancer group (73.9% ± 13.0%, 73.0% ± 16.6%, and 58.0% ± 21.0%, respectively) were significantly higher than in the healthy group (37.4% ± 12.4%, 37.8% ± 13.5%, and 34.0% ± 14.1%, respectively; P <0.01). Proportions of CD4 + T-cells producing IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in 10 patients undergoing curative resection had decreased significantly 1 month after surgery ( P <0.01). No significant difference was noted between groups in the percentages of CD4 + T-cells producing IFN-γ. CONCLUSIONS: Th2-dominant status develops in cancer patients. Such lymphocyte evaluations could find applications in diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of cancer patients.