Foxp3 Expression in CD4＋CD25＋Foxp3＋ Regulatory T Cells Promotes Development of Colorectal Cancer by Inhibiting Tumor Immunity

The mechanism underlying CD4~＋CD25~＋Foxp3~＋ regulatory T cells（Tregs） promoting the development of colorectal cancer（CRC） was elucidated in the present study. Forty-eight cases of colorectal carcinomas, 22 cases of colon polyps and 21 cases of normal colorectal tissues were collected. The correlation among Foxp3, IL-10 and Stat3, and the clinical relevance of these three indexes were analyzed. The results showed that the levels of Foxp3 expressed in infiltrating CD4~＋CD25~＋Foxp3~＋Tregs, and IL-10 and Stat3 in CRC tissues were all significantly higher than those in polypus tissues and normal colon tissues（P〈0.01）. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the expression level of Foxp3 was positively correlated with Stat3 at m RNA level（r=0.526, P=0.036）, and was positively correlated with IL-10 at protein level（r=0.314, P=0.030）. The Foxp3 expressed in CD4~＋CD25~＋Foxp3~＋Tregs was correlated with the histological grade, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of CRC（P〈0.05 for all）. The IL-10 expression was correlated with the histological grade and TNM stage（both P〈0.05）. The Stat3 expression was correlated with the lymph node metastasis and TNM stage（both P〈0.05）. It was concluded that CD4~＋CD25~＋Foxp3~＋Tregs can inhibit tumor immunity in combination with some other related inhibitory cytokines and that Foxp3 expression in CD4~＋CD25~＋Foxp3~＋Tregs correlates with CRC progression.

Effects of Danshen Injection on the Malignant Obstructive Jaundice in the SD Rat Model

To observe the effects of Danshen on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in the SD rats, a model of malignant obstructive jaundice was established by inoculation of transplanted tumor into the hepatic portal with the walker-256 hepatocarcine line, which resulted in the obstruction by the infiltration and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. SD rats were divided into 4 groups： the rats were treated by 0.9 % NS （n=24, control group）, inosine＋vitamin C （n=40, InV group）, Danshen （n=40, DS group） and 5-FU （n=40, 5-FU group）, respectively. The liver function, morphological changes and the expressions of PCNA, VEGF and ICAM-1 in carcinoma foci, peri-carcinoma tissues, adjacent lobe （left-internal lobe） and lung tissues were observed after the treatment with the 4 agents. Our results showed that the protective effect of Danshen on liver function was significantly better than that of NS and 5-FU （P〈0.01）. No significant difference in protective effect was observed between DS group and lnV group （P〉0.05）. Danshen also provided protective effect on the morphological damage of liver caused by obstructive jaundice. The rates of carcinoma-inhibition and metastasis inhibition were significantly higher than those of NS and inosine＋vitamin C （P〈0.01）. No significant difference in this regard existed between DS group and 5-FU group （P〉0.05）. The expressions of PCNA,VEGF and ICAM-1 PCNA, VEGF and ICAM-1 in carcinoma foci, peri-carcinoma tissues, adjacent lobe （left-internal lobe） and lung tissues were lower than those in control group and InV group, with the differences being significant （P〈0.01）. No significant differences were found between DS group and 5-FU group in the expression levels of PCNA and VEGF （P〉0.05） but ICAM-1 （P〈0.05）. It is concluded that Danshen injection not only has protective effects on liver injury caused by obstructive jaundice, but can inhibit the proliferation and growth of hepatocarcinoma, interfere with the vascularization of tumors, prevent recurrence and metastasis of hepatocarcineoma.