Expression and clinical significance of CCR6, CCR7 and CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and neck lymphatic metastasis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the expressions and clinical significance of chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6), chemokine receptor 7(CCR7) and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and metastatic lymph nodes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples and fresh specimens of LSCC were obtained from 50 LSCC patients treated. Blood samples from normal subjects were donated by 20 volunteers. The mRNA expressions of CCR6, CCR7 and their ligands CCL20, CCL19/CCL21 were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Expressions of CCR6 and CCR7 proteins were examined with immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry was used to investigate Treg in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The relative expression levels of CCR6, CCR7 and CCL19 mRNA in tumor tissues with lymphatic metastases were significantly lower than those without lymph node metastases (P < 0.05), while the relative expression level of CCL20 mRNA in tumor tissues with lymphatic metastases was significantly higher than that of those without metastatic lymph nodes (t = 2.39, P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression levels of CCR6 and CCR7 in tumor tissues in patients with lymph node metastases than those without lymph node metastases. CCR6 and CCR7 expressions were also detected in metastatic lymph nodes. Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of Treg in blood in LSCC patients was significantly higher than that in normal subjects (t = 2.19, P < 0.05), and those with lymph node metastasis had a much higher percentage of Treg (t = 2.14, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CCR6, CCR7 and Treg could take part in the process of lymph node metastasis in LSCC patients.</p>