ABSTRACT
Objective The aim of this study is to investigate CD+8 natural killer T cell receptors NKG2D and NKG2A expression in peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer and discuss the relation between imbalance expression of NKG2A and NKG2D and tumor immune escape. Methods Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of NKG2D and NKG2A-expressing of CD+8 NKT cells in peripheral blood of 95 untreated lung cancer patients and 50 healthy controls. Results NKG2D was lower expressed on CD+8 NKT in lung cancer, the level of NKG2D in patients (77.07±5.77) % was significantly lower than that in the controls (84.13±4.49) % (t =8.14, P <0.05). In the TNM stage, the level of NKG2D in patients of Ⅰ-ⅢA, ⅢB, Ⅳ stage were (81.07±5.02) %, (76.95 ±4.70)%, (72.80±5.16) %, respectively, the level of NKG2D was significantly decreased in order (F =18.74, P <0.05). NKG2A was expressed higher on CD+8 NKT in lung cancer, the level of NKG2A in patients (33.58±8.82) % was significantly higher than that in the controls (25.31 ±8.38) % (t =-5.46, P<0.05). In the TNM stage, the level of NKG2A in patients of Ⅰ - Ⅲ A, ⅢB, Ⅳ stage were (25.10±6.93) %, (33.24±3.76) %, (43.64±6.10) %, respectively, the level of NKG2A was significantly increased in order (F =75.73,P <0.05). Conclusion Imbalance expression of NKG2A and NKG2D may restrain the function of CD+8 NKT cell of lung cancer patients in peripheral blood and that may be one of important factors in tumor immunological escape.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To globally compare the gene expression profiles during the capillary morphogenesis of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) in an in vitro angiogenesis system with Affymetrix oligonucleotide array.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A microcarrier-based in vitro angiogenesis system was developed, in which endothelial cells (ECs) migrated into the matrix, proliferated, and formed capillary sprouts. The sprouts elongated, branched and formed network. The total RNA samples from the HMVECs at the selected time points (0.5 h, 24 h, and 72 h) during the capillary morphogenesis were used for microarray analyses, and the data were processed with the software provided by the manufactory. The expression patterns of some genes were validated and confirmed by Semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The regulated genes were grouped based on their molecular functions and expression patterns, and among them the expression of chemokines/chemokine receptors were specially examined and their functional implications were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>About 1500 genes were found up- or down- regulated 2-folds or above detected by the arrays, and among them, about 400 genes regulated 3-folds or above. The regulated genes could be grouped into categories based on their molecular functions such as growth factor and receptor, cell proliferation, extracellular matrix, cell cycle and apoptosis, signaling molecule and transcription factor, and so on, using the Gene Ontology Mining Tool in The NetAffx Analysis Center. The regulated genes were also clustered into six groups based on their patterns of expression. As for chemokines, the CCL2/MCP-1, CCL5/RANTES and CX3CL1 were identified to be specially upregulated at 24 h time point when the sprouting characterized the morphological change. It was thus suggested that they might exert crucial roles at the early stage of angiogenesis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Based on our angiogenesis model, and by oligonucleotide arrays, the present study demonstrates global profiles of the gene expression during endothelial capillary morphogenesis, and the results provide us much information about the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis, with which further evaluation of individual genes can be encouraged.</p>