Abstract
BackgroundThe fine balance of Th17/Treg is crucial for maintenance of immune homeostasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the balance of Th17/Treg and the expression of related cytokines in Uighur cervical cancer patients.MethodsPeripheral blood was collected from 65 cases of cervical cancer patients, 42 cases of cervical CIN patients and 40 healthy people. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentages of T cell subsets, including CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, Treg cells and Th17 cells. ELISA assay was conducted to detect expression levels of TGF-β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23 and IFN-γ.ResultsThere were no significant difference in the levels of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ among the cervical cancer group, the CIN group and the healthy control group. However, compared with the healthy control group, the percentages of CD4+ CD25+ Treg, CD4+CD25+CD127- Treg, CD4+IL17+ Th17, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+, CD8+CD25+CD127-Treg and CD8+CD25+Foxp3 were significantly higher in the cervical cancer group and the CIN group. Similar results were also found in the Th17/Treg ratio and the related cytokines. There was no significant difference between the cervical cancer group and the CIN group. Additionally, Th17 cell levels were positively correlated with IL-6, IL-23 and IL-17. Also, Treg cell levels were positively correlated with TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-6. Contrarily, Treg cell levels and IFN-γ were negatively correlated.ConclusionsOur data indicated that the Th17/Treg balance was broken in peripheral blood of cervical cancer patients. Analysis of Th17/Treg balance may have a significant implication in diagnosing cervical cancer.Virtual slidesThe virtual slide for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1813823795931511
Highlights
The fine balance of Th17/Treg is crucial for maintenance of immune homeostasis
Our data indicated that the Th17/Treg balance was broken in peripheral blood of cervical cancer patients
Analysis of Th17/Treg balance may have a significant implication in diagnosing cervical cancer
Summary
The objective of this study was to investigate the balance of Th17/Treg and the expression of related cytokines in Uighur cervical cancer patients. Cervical cancer is primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papilloma-virus (HPV). HPV infection, in most cases, is self-limiting and can be eradicated by humoral and cell-mediated immune response. This suggests that immunoregulation may play an important role in cervical cancer carcinogenesis. Liu et al [3] applied the genomic amplification of the human telomerase gene (hTERC) as a supplementary method to screen cervical cancer in high-risk patients. Little is known about the diagnostic roles of immune cells and cytokines in cervical cancer
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