Correlation between CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4 in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the immune function of the whole body and the tumor site of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients as well as its correlation with CCR4. Methods The ratios of CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+cells to lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry in tissues (25 cases) and peripheral blood (35 cases) from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, and then statistical analysis was made. Results The ratios of CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+ cells in tissue and peripheral blood of NPC were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). In NPC the ratios of the two cells in tissue were higher than in peripheral blood respectively (P<0.05), but there was no such difference between tissue and peripheral blood in the control group (P>0.05). The ratio of CD4~+CD25~+T cells in tissue at stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ was higher than that at stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ of NPC (P<0.05), but there was no such difference between the two stages in peripheral blood in NPC. There was a positive correlation between CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+ cells in tissue and peripheral blood of NPC (P<0.05). Conclusion NPC patients have different immunosuppression, and there is even more severe immunosuppression in the tumor site. The ratio of CD4~+CD25~+T cells is correlated with the stage of NPC. Therefore, as NPC progresses to later stages, the percentage of CD4~+CD25~+T cells is increased, which is correlated with poor prognosis. CCR4 plays an important role in reactant of CD4~+CD25~+T cells to tumor sites, and is resistant to immunosurveillance.