Regulatory T cells modulate tumor progression and clearance

Abstract

Abstract Regulatory T (Treg) cells, a distinct lineage of T cells, are required to maintain immunological tolerance. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which Treg cells modulate tumor growth and clearance needs further investigation. Thus, the goal of this study is to analyze the absolute number and role of Treg cells during tumorigenesis. To achieve this goal, tumor induction studies were performed on C57/B6 mice using transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) cell lines C1, C2 and C3. Interestingly, TRAMP C1 and C2 are tumorigenic while TRAMP C3 fail to form tumor. C57/B6 mice treated with different tumorigenic concentrations of TRAMP (C1, C2, and C3) cells. The experimental design also included appropriate controls. Developing tumors, spleen and draining lymph nodes were dissected out and single cell suspensions were prepared. Cells were stained with the specific antibodies such as NK cells, NKT cells, CD4, CD8, macrophages, B cells and Treg cells and analyzed using a 13-color flowcytometer. Preliminary data revealed that development of tumors by TRAMP C1 and TRAMP C2 cells and non-tumorigenesis by TRAMP C3 cells was dependent on number of Treg cells in tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the data suggest that the number of Treg cells present in tumor microenvironment may have a direct impact on tumor progression and clearance. Thus, modulating the number of Treg cells in tumor microenvironment may be a successful therapeutic strategy to control tumor progression