RESUMO
Objective: To analyze the effect of Argon-Helium cryosurgery (AHCS) on CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and its implication in patients with advanced renal carcinoma.Methods:,Peripheral venous blood samples were ob-tained from 32 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma before and after AHCS.The proportions of Treg cells and T lym-phocyte subsets (CD3+ T, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, CD4+ T/CD8+ T, and NK cells) in the peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry.Enhanced CT or enhanced MRI was used to observe the necrosis of tumor at 1 month after AHCS.The areas with no imaging enhancement in tumor were regarded as tumor necrosis.The necrosis rate was measured by Cavalieri method and the tumor burden was evaluated.Results: At 3 months after AHCS, the percentages of Treg cells were gradual-ly decreased from 4.18%±1.58% to 1.96%±0.54%, with a significant difference (P=0.001).At 3 months after AHCS, the pro-portions of CD3+ T, CD4+ T, NK and CD4+ T/CD8+ T were gradually increased from 19.26%±7.52%, 43.54%±12.99%, 1.15%±0.57%, and 17.49%±8.36% to 30.83%±5.69%, 49.58±10.76%, 1.84%±0.12%, and 27.63%±8.20%, with a statistical significance (P=0.000, P=0.003, P=0.02, and P=0.001).The proportion of CD8 + T was decreased from 40.86%±8.89% to the lowest ratio (26.74%±4.29%) at 3 months after AHCS, with a significant difference (P=0.000).At 3～6 months after cryo-therapy, there was only a slight change in the proportions of CD3 + T, CD4 + T, CD4 + T/CD8 + T, NK, CD8 + T, and Treg cells, with no significant difference (P>0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the decrease in tumor burden was positively correlated with the decrease of the proportion of Treg cells (r=0.793, P<0.01).Conclusion: After AHCS, the distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets can be improved and the anti-tumor immune response was strengthened.The percentage of Treg cells is correlated with tumor burden.
RESUMO
The function of CD4+CD25+regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the effects of atorvastatin were investigated. Forty-eight patients with ACS were randomly divided into two groups: group C receiving conventional therapy (n=24), and group C+A receiving conventional therapy+atorvastatin (10 mg/day, n=24). T lymphocytes from ACS patients (before and 2 weeks after the treatment) or 18 healthy subjects were separated and the flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of Treg. The inhibitory ability of Treg on effector T cells was determined by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β1 and IFN-γ) before and after treatment. The results showed that as compared with normal control group, Treg percentage was decreased significantly (P<0.01), the in- hibitory ability of Treg on the T lymphocytes proliferation was reduced (P<0.01), IFN-γ, levels were increased and IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels were lowered in ACS patients. After treatment with atorvas- tatin, Treg percentage and the inhibitory ability of Treg on T lymphocytes proliferation were signifi- cantly increased in ACS patients. Serum IFN-γ, was decreased significantly, while IL-10 and TGF-β1 were elevated significantly as compared with the non-atorvastatin group. The number of Treg was positively correlated with serum TGF-β1, but negatively with serum IFN-γ and CRP. It was concluded that ACS was associated with decreased number and defected function of Treg, which may play an important role in initiating immune-inflammatory response in ACS. The inhibitory ef- fects of atorvastatin on inflammation in ACS may be due to its beneficial effects on Treg and restora- tion of immune homeostasis.