Colon cancer and the immune system:The role of tumor invading T cells

Colon cancer is still one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Although the host immune system has been shown to react against tumor cells, mainly through tumor infi ltrating lymphocytes and NK cells, tumor cells may utilize different ways to escape anti-tumor immune response. Tumor infi ltration of CD8+ and CD4+ (T-bet+) effector T cells has been attributed to a beneficial outcome, and the enhancement of T cell activation through T cell receptor stimulation and co-stimulatory signals provides promising strategies for immunotherapy of colon cancer. Growing evidence supports a role for the Fas/FasL system in tumor immunology, although the mechanisms and consequences of FasL activation in colon cancer are not completely understood. In animal models, depletion of regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+ T cells) can enhance the anti-tumor immune response under certain conditions. Taken together, recent insights in the immune reaction against colon carcinoma have provided new approaches to immunotherapy, although much remains to be learned about the exact mechanisms.

Expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4^＋ T cells in CBA/J×DBA/2 mouse model, selectively induced by IL-4 and IL-10, regulates the embryo resorption rate

Background Chemokines and their receptors have been a research focus in transplantation immunology. Chemokines and their receptors play a role in lymphocyte recruitment and differentiation process. This study aimed to observe whether IL-4 and IL-10 may regulate the expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4^＋ T cells in CBA/J×DBA/2 mouse model and to explore the role of CCR3, CCR5, CXCR3 in immune tolerance in pregnancy. Methods The mouse model of spontaneous abortion （CBA/J×DBA/2） and the normal pregnant mouse model （CBA/J×BALB/c） were used. CBA/J×DBA/2 mice were injected with IL-4 （CBA/J×DBA/2-IL-4）, IL-4 and IL-10 （CBA/J×DBA/2-IL-4＋IL-10）, or normal saline （CBA/J×DBA/2-NS） as a control. The expression of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4^＋ T cells from mouse peripheral blood was measured by the double-labelled FCM method, and the embryo resorption rate was also examined. Results The embryo resorption rate in the CBA/J×DBA/2 group without any treatment was significantly higher than that in the CBA/J×BALB/c group （17.9% vs 3.7%, P 〈0.01）. The embryo resorption rate in the CBA/J×DBA/2 group immunized with IL-4 or IL-4 together with IL-10 was significantly decreased, compared with that in the control and NS groups respectively. CCR3 expression on CD4^＋ T cells in the CBA/J×DBA/2 group without any treatment was significantly lower than that in the CBA/J×BALB/c group （0.3738±0.3575 vs 1.2190±0.2772, P 〈0.01）; both CCR5 （3.0900±1.5603 vs 1.2390±0.6361, P〈0.01） and CXCR3 （2.4715±0.9074 vs 0.9200±0.5585, P 〈0.01） expressions on CD4^＋ T cells of the CBA/J×DBA/2 group without any treatment were significantly higher than those of the CBA/J×BALB/c group. Significant up-regulation of CCR3 and down-regulation of CXCR3 were found in the CBA/J×DBA/2 group treated with IL-4 （CCR3： 2.0360±0.6944, CXCR3： 1.3510±0.5263, P〈0.01） or IL-4 and IL-10 （CCR3： 1.8160±1.0947, CXCR3：1.0940±0.7168, P〈0.01）. Because of the CCR5, IL-4 and IL-10 （1.9400±0.8504 vs 3.0900±1.5603, P 〈0.05）, but IL-4 alone （2.5310±1.3595 vs 3.0900±1.5603, P 〉0.05） treatment significantly decreased the expression of CCR5 in CBA/J×DBA/2. Conclusions The abnormal expression of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4^＋ T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion. The pregnancy immune tolerance may be induced through selective induction of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 expressions by IL-4 together with IL-10.

Study on Cytokines IL-2,IL-6,IL-10 in Patients of Chronic Allergic Rhinitis Treated with Acupuncture

OBJECTIVES: To observe the plasmatic concentration of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-2 in the patient of chronic allergic rhinitis before and after acupuncture therapy. METHODS: Cytokine levels were determined before and after treatment in 30 healthy volunteers (Group A) and 90 patients of chronic allergic rhinitis (Group B) with an increased plasma IL-10 level. Group B was then divided into 3 subgroups: 30 patients treated with real acupuncture (Group B1); 30 patients treated with sham acupuncture (Group B2); 30 non-treated patients (Group B3). RESULTS: The allergic subjects of group B1, compared with controls, showed a significant reduction of IL-10 after a specific treatment with acupuncture (P

Relationship between expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4^＋ T cells and spontaneous abortion in mice

Background Previous studies have shown that local immune cells in the feto-maternal interface are recruited from peripheral blood, and that chemokines and their receptors play an initial and key role in this recruitment process. In this study, we aimed to determine whether spontaneous abortion is associated with the expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR3 on CD4^＋ T cells. Methods Peripheral blood, spleen, and thymus were collected from the spontaneous abortion mouse model CBA/JxDBA/2 （SA group, n=14）, the normal pregnant mouse model CBA/JxBALB/c （NP group, n=13）, and normal non-pregnant CBA/J mice （NNP group, n=11）. The number of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR3 expressed on CD4^＋ T cells was measured by double-label flow cytometry （FCM） method. Results In peripheral blood, the SA group had significantly lower CCR3 expression （P 〈0.01） and higher CCR5 and CXCR3 expression （P 〈0.01） on CD4^＋ T cells than did the NP group. But comparing these chemokines between the SA and NNP groups, there was no significant difference （P 〉0.05）. In spleen, the SA group expressed significantly lower CCR3 expression （P 〈0.01） and higher CCR5 and CXCR3 expression （P 〈0.05） on CD4^＋ T cells than did the NP group. When compared with the NNP group, the SA group had significantly higher CCR3 expression （P 〈0.01）, but was not statistically different with regards to the other two chemokines （P 〉0.05）. In thymus, the SA group had significantly lower CCR3 expression （P 〈0.05） and higher CXCR3 expression （P 〈0.05） on CD4^＋ T cells than the NP group, with no significant difference in CCR5 expression （P 〉0.05）. Compared with the NNP group, the SA group had higher CCR3 expression （P 〈0.01）, but there was no statistical difference in CXCR3 and CCR5 expression （P 〉0.05） between the two groups. Conclusion The abnormal expression of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4^＋ T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion.

Effect of Icariin on apoptosis and expression of Fas,Fas ligand,B cell lymphoma,and Bcl-2-associated X protein in CD4＋ T lymphocytes from patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of icariin on apoptosis and the expression of Fas, Fas ligand(Fas L), B cell lymphoma(Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax) in CD4+ T lymphocytes from patients with ankylosing spondylitis.METHODS:Primary cultures of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes were established and treated with icariin at high, medium, and low doses(0.5,0.25, and 0.125 mg/mL).Sulfasalazine treated and helthy cells were used as controls.Apoptosis of treated cells was determined by flow cytometry.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine the effects of icariin on the expression of Fas, Fas L, Bcl-2, and Bax.The activity of caspase 8 and caspase 3 was determined by a colorimetric assay.RESULTS:The m RNA and protein expression of Fas,and activity of caspase 8 and caspase 3 in CD4+ T lymphocytes were increased by icariin(P < 0.05).Conversely, the m RNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 was decreased(P < 0.05).The expression of Fas L and Bax were not significantly different between groups.The proapoptotic effects of icariin were dose-dependent.CONCLUSION:Icariin induces the apoptosis of CD4 + T cells from patients with AS comparing to normal control.Therefore, the induction of apoptosis may be the likely mechanism of action of icariin's antirheumatics activities.

CD4^＋T细胞对损伤面神经元的保护作用

面神经是脑神经中最易受损的神经之一。面神经断伤将引起一定数量的面神经元死亡或萎缩；而神经元数量的减少，功能的降低必然影响神经功能的恢复。在面神经损伤后免疫反应机制的研究中，研究者发现CD4^＋T细胞可以维持受损面神经元存活，并再次激活萎缩的神经元。本文就该领域的研究进展做一综述。

T helper cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the compositions of Th1/Th2/Th3 cells in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals by determining the expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), inetrferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in single CD4(+) T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the role of polarized Th cell populations in chronic HBV-infection was discussed. METHODS: PBMCs from chronically infected HBV individuals were isolated, stimulated by PMA/Ionomycin/Monensin, and IL-4, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta production by CD4(+) T cells was determined by using fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. RESULTS: The percentage of IFN-gamma-producing T cells, IL-4-producing T cells and TGF-beta-producing T cells ranged from 2.3% - 18.6%, 1.1% - 8.7% and 0.7% - 7.1% respectively in CD4(+) T cells from non-infected individuals. Most of CD4(+) T cells from PBMCs in chronically infected HBV individuals were Th0 cells. The proportion of Th1 cells increased significantly with hepatic inflammatory activity, and in the active period of chronic hepatitis B infection were higher than those in the non-active period (P 0.05), but were higher than that from controls (P

EB病毒诱导基因3在Th细胞免疫反应中的作用

EB病毒诱导基因3（epstein．Barrvirusinducedgene3，EBl3）是在EB病毒转化的B细胞培养上清液中发现的与细胞因子IL一12同源的可溶性细胞因子受体，在体内以同源二聚体、IL．27异源二聚体和IL一35异源二聚体3种形式存在。在免疫应答反应中，EBl3参与调节效应性T辅助细胞Thl、Th2和Thl7细胞的活化与分化，发挥抗感染和抗变应性炎症等调节作用。最近发现EBl3是调节性T细胞中Foxp3转录因子的下游靶分子，抑制调节性T细胞的分化和其免疫抑制活性，并与多种疾病的发病机制和免疫状态密切相关，是治疗感染性疾病、变应性疾病以及自身免疫性疾病的新靶点。