engleski

Cross-talk between NTK and T regulatory cells (Tregs) on systemic and local immune response in colorectal carcinoma patients

Natural killer (NK) and NKT cells are important in innate immune response. The immune system has the possibility to distinguish between innocuous and harmful foreign antigens by mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Mechanisms of peripheral tolerance contain the induction of cell death or the development of a no responsive state (anergy) of T cells. Furthermore, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have active suppression mode and may induce peripheral tolerance. Tregs often benefit the host in autoimmune, allergic, infectious diseases as well as in cancer and transplantation. These immunoregulatory mechanisms of Treg cells are the subject of intensive investigation. Activated NKT cells have a possibility to modulate quantitatively and qualitatively Treg function through IL-2-dependent mechanisms. Tregs can suppress the proliferation, cytokine release and cytotoxic activity of NKT cells by cell-contact-dependent mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the immunological features of systemic and local immune response in patients with colorectal carcinoma. We analyzed the peripheral blood lymphocytes, as well as the lymphocytes from the irrigating areas of lower mesenteric vein (taking during the operation) by flow cytometric technique (FACSCalibur) for determine the number of T, B cells, NK cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) and NKT cells of patients with colorectal carcinoma, comparing to healthy volunteers. Our preliminary data indicate that this group of carcinoma patients has significantly augmented the numbers of cells responding for innate immune response, which correlates with the grade status of tumor. Despite enormous advancements in tumor immunology over the last two decades, the cascade of molecular events leading to immune-mediated tumor rejection is still incompletely understood and clinical results achieved with cancer vaccines are limited. This work was supported by grant from the Croatian Ministry of Science (project 052-0620096-0094).

colorectal carcinoma; NKT cells; Treg cells

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