TIM-3在前列腺癌中的表达及意义

Clinical study of TIM-3 in prostate cancer

目的:TIM-3是新近发现的免疫调节因子,它在免疫调节中起着重要作用。本研究目的是探索TIM-3对前列腺癌进展的作用。方法:通过石蜡包埋前列腺组织进行TIM-3的免疫组化分析。应用流式细胞仪分析TIM-3在外周血CD4^+及CD8^+T细胞中的表达。并分析TIM-3表达与临床病理特征之间的关系。结果:与前列腺增生患者比较,流式细胞仪检测显示TIM-3在前列腺癌患者CD4^+T细胞、CD8^+T细胞中表达显著增高。另外,TIM-3在患者CD4^+T细胞表达水平与CD8^+T细胞呈正相关。免疫组化检测分析TIM-3在前列腺增生上皮细胞不染色或染色较弱,而在前列腺癌中呈强染色。结论:TIM-3可能影响前列腺癌的发展与进程的标志物提供理论依据。

Objective Tim-3 （T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing molecule 3） is a newly discovered immunomodulatory, which plays an important role in immunity regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Tim-3 on the development of prostate cancer （PCa）. Methods Tim-3 expressing on peripheral CD4^＋ T and CD8^＋ T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The relationships between Tim- 3 expression and clinicopathological features were analyzed. Immunohistochemical expression of Tim-3 was examined in paraffin-fixed prostate tissues. Results Flow cytometry revealed that expression of Tim-3 was significant- ly increased on both CD4^＋ and CD8^＋ T cells in PCa patients than that in BPH patients. Also, level of Tim-3 on CD4^＋ T cells was positively correlated with CD8^＋ T cells in patients. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that positive staining of Tim-3 in PCa but little or no staining of Tim-3 was observed in BPH epithelium. Conclusions Tim-3 may affect the development and progression of PCa, which may provide knowledge for using Tim-3 as a novel therapy for effective PCa management.