Role of T cell death in maintaining immune tolerance during persistent viral hepatitis

Virus-specific T cells play an important role in the resolution of hepatic infection. However, during chronic hepatitis infection these cells lack their effector functions and fail to control the virus. Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus have developed several mechanisms to generate immune tolerance. One of these strategies is the depletion of virus-specific T cells by apoptosis. The immunotolerogenic liver has unique property to retain and activate na ve T cell to avoid the over reactivation of immune response against antigens which is exploited by hepatotropic viruses to persist. The deletion of the virus-specific T cells occurs by intrinsic (passive) apoptotic mechanism. The pro-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2 interacting mediator (Bim) has attracted increasing attention as a pivotal involvement in apoptosis, as a regulator of tissue homeostasis and an enhancer for the viral persistence. Here, we reviewed our current knowledge on the evidence showing critical role of Bim in viral-specific T cell death by apoptotic pathways and helps in the immune tolerance.

炎调方通过PD-1/PD-L1通路抑制脓毒症大鼠T淋巴细胞衰竭的实验研究

目的研究炎调方对脓毒症大鼠T淋巴细胞及T淋巴细胞表面表面程序性死亡蛋白(PD-1)、程序性死亡蛋白配体(PD-L1)表达的影响。方法SD大鼠(雄性)分为正常组、假手术组、模型组和炎调方组。盲肠结扎穿孔(CLP)制备脓毒症大鼠模型,于造模后12、24、48、72 h采集外周血处死大鼠(每个时间点各5只大鼠),采用流式细胞分析法测定CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)比例;双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定CD4^(+)及CD8^(+)表面PD-1、PD-L1表达水平。结果白介素-6(IL-6)在脓毒症模型组12 h分泌达到高峰后逐渐下降,降钙素原(PCT)在模型组24 h达到高峰后逐渐下降;炎调方组在12 h降低IL-6的水平(P<0.05),24 h时明显降低IL-6、PCT的水平(P<0.01)。模型组CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)比例早期分泌开始减少,48 h分泌达最低点(P<0.01);炎调方组在48 h时可升高CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)比例,提高CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)的比值而具体调节T细胞活化和增殖的功能。模型组CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)表面PD-1、PD-L1表达水平早期24 h即表达增多(P<0.01),72 h表达最多;炎调方组24 h时即可抑制PD-1、PD-L1的表达水平而具体改善T细胞衰竭的作用。CD4^(+)的比例与CD4^(+)表面PD-1、PD-L1的表达呈负相关(P<0.01);CD8^(+)比例与CD8^(+)表面PD-1、PD-L1的表达呈负相关(P<0.01)。结论脓毒症早期48 h内即出现了T细胞活化和增殖的功能衰竭引起的T细胞免疫抑制。炎调方能在脓毒症早期改善T细胞活化和增殖的功能,其机制可能与抑制PD-1/P-L1通路有关。

ITP患者PD-1/PD-L1表达特点及其在Treg与Breg细胞之间的相互作用机制分析

目的探讨原发免疫性血小板减少症(ITP)患者细胞程序性死亡受体-1(PD-1)/细胞程序性死亡配体1(PD-L1)表达特点及其在调节性T细胞(Treg)、调节性B细胞(Breg)间的相互作用。方法选取2018年12月—2022年1月在我院治疗的ITP患者106例作为观察组,其中轻度患者32例,中度患者44例,重度患者30例。同时选取同期健康志愿者100例作为对照组。检测两组Treg细胞百分比、Breg细胞百分比、Treg细胞表面PD-1阳性率、Breg细胞表面PD-L1阳性率等,同时分析观察组不同病情程度患者各指标差异。结果观察组Breg细胞百分比、Treg细胞百分比、TGF-β、IL-10和IL-4水平均明显低于对照组(P<0.05);观察组Treg细胞表面PD-1阳性率、Breg细胞表面PD-L1阳性率、可溶性程序性细胞死亡蛋白-1(sPD-1)和IL-17水平均明显高于对照组(均P<0.05);两组可溶性程序性细胞死亡蛋白配体-1(sPD-L1)水平比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组重度患者Breg细胞百分比、Treg细胞百分比均明显低于轻度和中度患者(均P<0.05),而Treg细胞表面PD-1阳性率、Breg细胞表面PD-L1阳性率均明显高于轻度和中度患者(均P<0.05)。Treg细胞表面PD-1阳性率与Breg细胞表面PD-L1阳性率呈正相关(r=0.446,P<0.05)。观察组治疗后Breg细胞百分比、Treg细胞百分比、TGF-β、IL-10和IL-4水平有所升高(P<0.05),而Treg细胞表面PD-1阳性率、Breg细胞表面PD-L1阳性率、sPD-1和IL-17水平有所降低(P<0.05),治疗前后sPD-L1水平比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论ITP患者Treg细胞表面PD-1和Breg细胞表面PD-L1阳性率明显升高,与患者病情严重程度呈正相关,同时Treg细胞表面PD-1和Breg细胞表面PD-L1表达之间存在相关性。

Natural course of chronic hepatitis B is characterized by changing patterns of programmed death type-1 of CD8-positive T cells

AIM:To investigate if and how programmed death type-1(PD-1)expression affects the natural course of hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection. METHODS:Sixty-four patients in different natural stages of chronic HBV infection were enrolled in this study.PD-1 expression in total T cells was detected by flow cytometry.Levels of total CD8+T cell responses and proliferation in relation to PD-1 expression levels were analyzed with intracellular staining and PD-1/ PD-L1 blockage. RESULTS:The PD-1 expression in T cells was dynamically changed during the natural course of chronic HBV infection,did not significantly increase in the immune tolerance phase,and returned to normal in the inactive virus carrier stage.Blockage of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway could not affect the T-cell response in the immune tolerance and inactive virus carrier stages of chronic HBV infection.However,it could significantly restore the T-cell response in the immune clearance stage of chronic HBV infection.Furthermore,the PD-1 expression level in T cells was associated with the alanine aminotransferase level during the immune clearance stage of chronic HBV infection. CONCLUSION:The PD-l/PD-L1 pathway plays a different role in T-cell response during the natural course of chronic HBV infection.

癸酸能够活化CD8^(+)T细胞并提高其抗肿瘤免疫反应能力

目的:探究中链脂肪酸癸酸对CD8^(+)T细胞活化的影响,及其对CD8^(+)T细胞介导的抗肿瘤免疫反应的作用和机制。方法:建立C57BL/6小鼠黑色素瘤B16F10皮下荷瘤模型,随机分为癸酸组(10 mg/kg癸酸灌胃)和对照组(等量溶剂灌胃),观察癸酸对小鼠肿瘤生长以及生存率的影响,采用流式细胞术检测肿瘤微环境中浸润CD8^(+)T细胞的活化水平。建立B16F10-OVA和OT-I T细胞共培养体系,采用流式细胞术检测癸酸对CD8^(+)T细胞的肿瘤细胞杀伤能力的影响。采用α-CD8抗体清除B16F10荷瘤小鼠体内CD8^(+)T细胞,观察对小鼠肿瘤体积的影响。小鼠原代CD8^(+)T细胞经癸酸处理后,采用WB、ELISA及qPCR、流式细胞术检测T细胞受体(TCR)活化、效应细胞因子产生以及增殖和代谢水平。在B16F10荷瘤小鼠模型中,观察α-PD-1抗体联合癸酸给药对小鼠肿瘤生长以及生存率的影响。结果:在小鼠黑色素瘤荷瘤模型中,与对照组相比,癸酸组小鼠移植瘤体积显著降低且生存率显著提高(均P<0.05),肿瘤浸润CD8^(+)T细胞IFN-γ和TNF-α的表达水平显著升高(P<0.01)。经癸酸处理的OT-I T细胞对B16F10-OVA细胞的杀伤水平显著升高(P<0.01)。在荷瘤小鼠模型中用α-CD8抗体清除CD8^(+)T细胞后,癸酸对移植瘤的抑制作用显著降低(P<0.0001)。小鼠原代CD8^(+)T细胞经癸酸处理后,TCR活化水平显著升高、细胞因子IL-2和IFN-γ的产生增多、线粒体代谢水平显著上调(均P<0.05)。在黑色素瘤荷瘤小鼠模型中,癸酸与α-PD-1抗体联用,能够显著抑制小鼠移植瘤生长并提高其生存率(均P<0.05)。结论:癸酸能够促进CD8^(+)T细胞活化、增强其抗肿瘤免疫反应能力。

Prognostic value of programmed death.1, programmed death-ligand 1, programmed death-ligand 2 expression, and CD8(+) T cell density in primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes from patients with stage T1.4N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma

Background: Anti-programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1(PD-1/PD-L1) immunotherapy has been proved to be effective on gastric cancer in ongoing clinical trials. However, the value of PD-L1 in predicting responses of patients with gastric cancer to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy is controversial. Some studies suggested that intra-and inter-tumoral heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression might explain the controversy.This study aimed to analyze the expression of PD-L1, PD-L2, and PD-1 as well as CD8(+) T-cell density in primary tumors and lymph nodes from patients with stage T1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma to explore the heterogeneity of PD-1 signaling pathway molecules.Methods: In primary tumors and metastatic as well as non-metastatic lymph nodes from patients with stage T1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma, we detected PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression with immunohistochemistry. CD8(+)T-cell density in primary tumors and PD-1 expression on CD8(+)T cells were detected with immunofluorescence. Univariate analysis was used to determine the prognostic values of them. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify independent risk factors that affect patients' overall survival and disease-free survival.Results: Among 119 eligible patients who had undergone surgical resection, the positive rate of PD-L1 was higher in metastatic lymph nodes than in primary tumors(45.4% vs. 38.7%, P = 0.005); the positive rate of PD-1 on CD8(+)T cells was significantly higher in primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes than in tumor-free lymph nodes(both P < 0.001). The intensity of PD-1 expression on CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors and in metastatic lymph nodes were stronger than that in tumor-free lymph nodes from the same patient. Beside, the positive rate of PD-L2 did not show any differences between primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes. In multivariate analysis, PD-L1 expression,PD-L2 expression, a low density of CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors, and PD-1 expression on CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors were associated with poor prognosis.Conclusion: The expression of PD-L1 is heterogeneous in primary tumors and in metastatic lymph nodes from patients with stageT1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma, which might explain the inconsistent results in assessing the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in previous studies.

结直肠癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群与肿瘤进展的关系

目的 探讨结直肠癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群与肿瘤进展的关系。方法 选取2023年1—12月复旦大学附属肿瘤医院初诊结直肠癌患者100例(结直肠癌组),其中TNM分期Ⅰ期8例、Ⅱ期47例、Ⅲ期34例、Ⅳ期11例;有淋巴转移55例、无淋巴转移45例。以健康体检者80名作为正常对照组。采用流式细胞术检测CD3^(+)T细胞百分比(CD3^(+)%)、CD3^(+)CD4^(+)T细胞百分比(CD3^(+)CD4^(+)%)、CD3^(+)CD8^(+)T细胞百分比(CD3^(+)CD8^(+)%)、CD3^(+)CD4~-CD8~-T细胞[双阴性T细胞(DNT)]百分比(DNT%)、CD4^(+)CD25^(+)CD127^(low)调节性T细胞百分比(CD4^(+)Treg%)、CD3^(+)PD-1^(+)T细胞百分比(CD3^(+)PD-1^(+)%),计算CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值。同时检测肿瘤标志物[癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原(CA)19-9、CA72-4、CA50、CA242]。采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线评价各项指标判断结直肠癌患者淋巴转移的效能。结果 与正常对照组比较,结直肠癌组CD3^(+)CD8^(+)%显著升高(P<0.05),CD3^(+)CD4^(+)%、DNT%、CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值均显著降低(P<0.05);2个组之间CD3^(+)%差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。不同TNM分期的结直肠癌患者之间CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值、CD4^(+)Treg%和CD3^(+)PD-1^(+)%差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与无淋巴转移的结直肠癌患者比较,有淋巴转移的结直肠癌患者CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值显著降低(P<0.001),CD4^(+)Treg%和CD3^(+)PD-1^(+)%显著升高(P<0.001)。ROC曲线分析结果显示,CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值、CD4^(+)Treg%和CD3^(+)PD-1^(+)%单项检测和联合检测判断结直肠癌患者淋巴转移的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.762、0.775、0.765、0.825。以CEA、CA19-9、CA72-4、CA50、CA242任意1项阳性为肿瘤标志物阳性,TNMⅠ期患者肿瘤标志物均为阴性,Ⅱ期、Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期患者肿瘤标志物的阳性率分别为48.9%(23/47)、52.9%(18/34)、90.9%(10/11)。在TNMⅡ期和Ⅲ期患者中,肿瘤标志物阳性者CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值显著低于阴性者(P<0.001),CD4^(+)Treg%显著高于阴性者(P<0.001),CD3^(+)PD-1^(+)%差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 结直肠癌患者免疫抑制功能增强,T淋巴细胞亚群与肿瘤进展和肿瘤标志物表达密切相关。

Hepatoma cells up-regulate expression of programmed cell death-1 on T cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of hepatoma cells on up-regulation of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1),and the function of PD-1 on T cells. METHODS:HepG2 or HepG2.2.1.5 cells were co-cultured with a lymphoma cell line-Jurkat cells. PD-1 expression was detected by flow cytometry. IL-2,INF-γ and IL-10 in culture supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytotoxic action of T cells was determined by MTT reduction assay-direct mononuclear cell cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS:The PD-1 expression on Jurkat cells increased by 16.17% ± 2.5% and 17.43% ± 2.2% after HepG2 or HepG2.2.1.5 cells were co-cultured for 48 h. The levels of IL-2,INF-γ and IL-10 in the culture supernatant were 202.9 ± 53.0 pg/mL,88.6 ± 4.6 pg/mL and 63.7 ± 13.4 pg/mL respectively,which were signif icantly higher than those (102.9 ± 53 pg/mL,39.3 ± 4.2 pg/mL,and 34.6 ±13.7 pg/mL) in the control group (P < 0.05). The OD value for MTT assay in the blocking group (0.29 ± 0.06) was significantly higher than that (0.19 ± 0.09) in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:PD-1 expression on Jurkat cells is up-regulated by hepatoma cells,cytokines and cytotoxic action are elevated after PD-1/PD-L1 is blocked.

肝细胞癌肿瘤微环境细胞毒性T细胞PD-1的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨程序性细胞死亡蛋白1(PD-1)在肝细胞癌(HCC)肿瘤微环境细胞毒性T细胞中的表达及其临床意义。方法回顾性选取2012年1月至2020年12月入复旦大学附属中山医院青浦分院接受手术治疗的HCC患者344例为研究对象,手术切除HCC患者的癌组织,免疫组织化学双染色法检测PD-1的表达,依据PD-1的表达中位数水平分为PD-1高表达和PD-1低表达,分析PD-1表达与临床病理参数的相关性,采用Kaplan-Meier方法计算总生存率和无进展生存率并绘制生存曲线,采用多因素Cox回归分析HCC的预后影响因素。结果PD-1表达于HCC肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞的细胞膜和(或)细胞质上,肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞中PD-1的高表达率为43.9%(151/344);HCC肿瘤组中PD-L1的阳性表达率为21.8%(75/344);HCC肿瘤浸润免疫细胞中PD-L1的阳性表达率为47.1%(162/344);肿瘤浸润CD8^(+)T细胞高密度率为45.3%(156/344)。PD-1高表达与肿瘤组织学分级、肿瘤细胞PD-L1表达、CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞PD-L1表达、CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞密度有关(P<0.05)。PD-1高表达患者的总生存率为80.81%,明显低于PD-1低表达患者(88.95%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。PD-1高表达患者的无病生存率为67.44%,明显低于PD-1低表达患者(84.30%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。多因素Cox回归分析结果显示,肿瘤细胞PD-L1表达、肿瘤浸润免疫细胞PD-L1表达、CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞密度均为影响肝细胞癌患者预后的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞中PD-L1具有较高的表达率,CD8^(+)T细胞PD-1高表达与肿瘤组织学分级、肿瘤细胞PD-L1表达、CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞PD-L1表达、CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞密度、总生存率和无病生存率显著相关,可作为HCC患者辅助诊断和预测预后的指标之一。

CD^(+)T细胞及Treg细胞表面PD-1水平与肺癌患者术后预后的关系

目的探讨CD+T细胞及调节性T(Treg)细胞表面程序性死亡受体1(PD-1)水平与肺癌患者术后预后的关系。方法选取行肺癌根治术的肺癌患者126例,统计术后2年内预后不良发生率,并根据其预后情况将其分为良好组和不良组,单因素分析肺癌患者术后预后不良的影响因素,Logistic回归分析肺癌患者术后预后不良的影响因素,受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析CD+T细胞及Treg PD-1水平对肺癌患者术后预后的预测价值。结果两组肿瘤淋巴结转移(TNM)分期、CD3^(+)、CD3^(+)CD4^(+)、CD3^(+)CD8^(+)及Treg PD-1水平比较,均有显著差异(P<0.05);Logistic回归分析显示,CD3^(+)、CD3^(+)CD4^(+)是肺癌患者术后预后不良的独立保护因素,CD3^(+)CD8^(+)、Treg PD-1是肺癌患者术后预后不良的独立危险因素(P<0.05);ROC分析显示,CD3^(+)、CD3^(+)CD4^(+)、CD3^(+)CD8^(+)及Treg PD-1对肺癌患者预后预测的最佳截断点分别为53.52%、27.94%、27.96%、21.36%,曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.731、0.810、0.691、0.969。结论肺癌患者中CD3^(+)和CD3^(+)CD4^(+)呈低表达、CD3^(+)CD8^(+)呈高表达及Treg PD-1呈高表达与近期预后不良有关。

恶性肿瘤中免疫检查点抑制剂与甲状腺功能异常风险的Meta分析

目的 Meta分析免疫检查点抑制剂(immune checkpoint inhibitors,ICIs)治疗引起恶性肿瘤患者发生甲状腺功能异常的风险。方法 检索从建库至2022年10月15日Pub Med、Embase、Cochrane Library、中国知网及万方医学网中关于恶性肿瘤ICIs治疗的相关不良反应研究。根据纳入与排除标准筛选文献,提取研究数据,采用Stata 12.0软件进行Meta分析。结果 共纳入32项随机对照试验,其中使用程序性细胞死亡蛋白1(programmed cell death protein-1,PD-1)、程序性细胞死亡配体1(programmed cell death ligand-1,PD-L1)、细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关蛋白4(cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4,CTLA-4)抑制剂单药治疗分别为17篇、6篇、3篇,两种ICIs联合使用为8篇。Meta分析显示,ICIs单药治疗引起恶性肿瘤患者发生甲状腺功能减退(RR=9.04,95%CI为7.21~11.33)、甲状腺功能亢进(RR=10.83,95%CI为6.96~16.90)、甲状腺炎(RR=7.61,95%CI为2.99~19.37)的风险明显高于对照组。PD-1(RR=8.61,95%CI为6.47~11.46)、PD-L1(RR=6.75,95%CI为4.33~10.52)、CTLA-4(RR=7.12,95%CI为3.16~16.08)和联合应用(RR=52.56,95%CI为13.15~210.12)引起的甲状腺功能减退的风险比对照组均升高。与单一ICIs比较,ICIs联合使用引起甲状腺功能减退(RR=1.77,95%CI为1.41~2.22)及甲状腺功能亢进(RR=3.79,95%CI为2.42~5.96)的风险进一步升高。结论 ICIs治疗引起恶性肿瘤患者甲状腺功能异常的风险明显升高,以发生甲状腺功能减退的风险最高,其次是甲状腺功能亢进和甲状腺炎。与ICIs单药比较,ICIs联合使用可进一步升高风险。

卵巢癌患者外周血HDAC2、PD-L1蛋白及调节性T细胞水平与临床病理特征和预后的关系分析

目的探讨卵巢癌(OC)患者外周血组蛋白脱乙酰基酶(HDAC2)、程序性死亡配体1(PD-L1)蛋白及调节性T细胞(Treg)水平与临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法选取2018年7月至2019年9月在张家口市第一医院确诊治疗的60例OC患者作为研究组,根据随访3年患者生存情况分为生存组(n=43)、死亡组(n=17);另选取同期同一医院确诊的60例卵巢良性肿瘤患者作为对照组。采用流式细胞术检测外周血Treg、辅助性T细胞17(Th17)和Th17/Treg水平,采用酶联免疫吸附试验法检测HDAC2和PD-L1蛋白水平。分析Treg、Th17、Th17/Treg、HDAC2和PD-L1蛋白水平与临床病理特征间的关系;治疗后随访3年,分析比较生存组和死亡组患者外周血Treg、Th17、Th17/Treg、HDAC2和PD-L1蛋白水平;采用Logistic回归分析OC患者预后的影响因素。结果研究组患者Treg、Th17、Th17/Treg、HDAC2和PD-L1水平均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);OCⅠ期、Ⅱ期、Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期患者Treg、Th17、Th17/Treg、HDAC2和PD-L1蛋白水平均依次升高,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。临床分期、残存病灶大小、淋巴结转移、Treg、Th17、Th17/Treg、HDAC2和PD-L1蛋白水平均为OC患者预后的影响因素(P<0.05)。结论Treg、Th17、Th17/Treg、HDAC2和PD-L1蛋白参与并影响OC的发展,与患者预后密切相关。

PD-1、PD-L1、TIM-3表达与食管癌临床病理特征及预后的关系

目的探讨程序性细胞死亡蛋白-1(PD-1)、程序性细胞死亡蛋白配体1(PD-L1)、T细胞免疫球蛋白粘蛋白-3(TIM-3)表达与食管癌患者的临床病理特征及预后的关系。方法选取手术治疗的53例食管癌患者,术中取癌组织与癌旁正常组织,采用免疫组织化学法检测PD-1、PD-L1与TIM-3表达水平,并进行对比分析。进一步分析PD-1、PD-L1、TIM-3表达与食管癌患者临床病理特征及预后的关系。结果癌组织中PD-1、PD-L1、TIM-3阳性表达率高于癌旁正常组织,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。PD-1、PD-L1、TIM-3表达与临床分期、淋巴结转移有关,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。PD-1、PD-L1、TIM-3阳性表达患者的3年生存率均低于阴性表达,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。结论食管癌患者的癌组织内PD-1、PD-L1、TIM-3阳性表达率较高,三项指标与患者的临床分期、淋巴结转移联系紧密,且PD-1、PD-L1、TIM-3阳性表达患者的3年生存率更低,预后更差。

初诊急性髓系白血病患者T细胞免疫球蛋白黏液素3和程序性死亡分子1的表达及临床意义

目的探索初诊急性髓系白血病患者T细胞免疫球蛋白黏液素3(Tim-3)和程序性死亡分子1(PD-1)的表达水平及其临床意义。方法回顾性选取2018年7月至2020年4月在聊城市第二人民医院住院及门诊初诊的34例急性髓系白血病患者和20例良性血液病患者作为研究对象,根据不同疾病分为观察组(急性髓系白血病,34例)和对照组(良性血液病,20例)。应用流式细胞术分别检测外周血CD3+T细胞Tim-3和细胞程序性死亡-配体1(PD-L1)的表达水平,以及应用实时荧光定量PCR检测骨髓Tim-3 mRNA和PD-L1 mRNA的相对表达量,并进行对比分析。结果观察组患者的外周血CD3+细胞Tim-3的表达、骨髓Tim-3 mRNA均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001);观察组患者的外周血CD3+细胞PD-L1的表达、骨髓PD-L1 mRNA均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。结论初诊急性髓系白血病患者Tim-3和PD-L1表达水平升高,在急性髓系白血病免疫抑制微环境的形成中起到了一定作用。

骨髓增生异常综合征患者骨髓γδT细胞及其亚群的水平及意义

目的了解骨髓增生异常综合征(myelodysplastic syndrome,MDS)患者骨髓γδT细胞及其亚群的水平,探索MDS患者骨髓微环境的免疫缺陷状况。方法收集MDS患者治疗前后及正常供者骨髓样本,多色流式检测骨髓γδT细胞及亚群水平,并分析MDS患者治疗后各细胞亚群的变化。结果MDS患者骨髓γδT细胞和滤泡辅助性γδT细胞明显降低(P<0.05)。不同分化程度的γδT细胞,仅初始γδT细胞水平明显降低(P=0.037),中枢记忆、效应记忆和终末分化γδT细胞MDS患者与正常供者差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。免疫检查点PD1和TIM3阳性的γδT细胞分别存在一定程度的降低和升高,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后获得疗效患者的γδT细胞和初始γδT细胞水平较治疗前明显升高,效应记忆γδT细胞较治疗前明显降低(P<0.05),85.71%(6/7)的MDS患者γδ+TIM3+T细胞水平治疗后不同程度的降低。结论MDS患者骨髓微环境γδT细胞及其亚群的水平存在不同程度的异常,治疗有效的患者,异常的γδT细胞恢复,通过γδT细胞及亚群水平检测可了解MDS的免疫缺陷状态,有可能作为判断疗效的指标,并为抗肿瘤免疫疗法提供新的资料。

Effect of IFNα-2a on Fas expression and apoptosis rate of peripheral blood cytotoxic T cells in patients with hepatitis B

Interferon(IFN) with antiviral and im-munomodulatory activities is one of the most important therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic hepatitis. The apoptotic effect of IFN is influenced by cell type and the types of IFN, which suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in some cell types while inhibiting apoptosis in others. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of IFNα-2a on Fas expression and the apoptosis rate of peripheral blood cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) in patients with hepatitis B. METHODS:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 26 patients with hepatitis B including 16 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 10 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B. Fas expression and apoptosis rate of CTLs were analyzed with flow cytometry before and after IFNα-2a treatment. RESULTS:Before IFNα-2a treatment, Fas expression and apoptosis rate of CTLs from patients with chronic hepatitis B were significantly higher than those from patients with chronic severe hepatitis B and healthy controls respectively. No significant difference was observed between Fas expression and apoptosis rate of CTLs from patients with chronic severe hepatitis B and healthy controls. After IFNα-2a treatment,Fas expression and apoptosis rate of CTLs from different groups were compared with those before IFNα-2a treatment, showing no significant difference despite alternation of different degree. CONCLUSIONS:Activation induced cell death (AICD) exists in peripheral blood CTLs from patients with hepatitis B. No effect of IFNα-2a exerts on Fas expression and apoptosis rate of Fas in patients with hepatitis B.

Emergence of immunotherapy as a novel way to treat hepatocellular carcinoma

Tumor immunity proceeds through multiple processes, which consist of antigen presentation by antigen presenting cells(APCs) to educate effector cells and destruction by the effector cytotoxic cells. However, tumor immunity is frequently repressed at tumor sites. Malignantly transformed cells rarely survive the attack by the immune system, but cells that do survive change their phenotypes to reduce their immunogenicity. The resultant cells evade the attack by the immune system and form clinically discernible tumors. Tumor microenvironments simultaneously contain a wide variety of immune suppressive molecules and cells to dampen tumor immunity. Moreover, the liver microenvironment exhibits immune tolerance to reduce aberrant immune responses to massively-exposed antigens via the portal vein, and immune dysfunction is frequently associated with liver cirrhosis, which is widespread in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients. Immune therapy aims to reduce tumor burden, but it is also expected to prevent non-cancerous liver lesions from progressing to HCC, because HCC develops or recurs from noncancerous liver lesions with chronic inflammatory states and/or cirrhosis and these lesions cannot be cured and/or eradicated by local and/or systemic therapies. Nevertheless, cancer immune therapy should augment specific tumor immunity by using two distinct measures: enhancing the effector cell functions such as antigen presentation capacity of APCs and tumor cell killing capacity of cytotoxic cells, and reactivating the immune system in immune-suppressive tumor microenvironments. Here, we will summarize the current status and discuss the future perspective on immune therapy for HCC.

食管鳞状细胞癌患者血清PD-L1含量与T淋巴细胞免疫功能的相关性探讨

目的:探究食管鳞状细胞癌(esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,ESCC)患者血清程序性死亡配体-1(programmed death-ligand 1,PD-L1)含量与T淋巴细胞免疫功能的相关性。方法:收集2021年08月至2022年01月我院初诊的62例ESCC患者作为ESCC组,对照组29例来自相对健康人群,采用两独立样本Wilcoxon秩和检验比较两组血清PD-L1和T淋巴细胞亚群水平的差异及这些指标在ESCC组不同临床分期中的差异,绘制受试者工作特征曲线(receiver operating characteristic curve,ROC)评价在临床分期中有差异的指标对ESCC临床进展的预测价值;采用χ^(2)检验分析血清PD-L1与ESCC患者临床病理特征之间的相关性,两独立样本Wilcoxon秩和检验比较血清PD-L1高值组与低值组T淋巴细胞亚群水平的差异。结果:ESCC组PD-L1水平显著高于对照组,且Ⅲ-Ⅳ期的ESCC患者血清PD-L1含量明显高于Ⅰ-Ⅱ期(P<0.05)。ESCC组CD4^(+)PD-1^(+)T细胞百分比显著高于对照组(P<0.05);而CD3^(+)T细胞绝对值计数、CD4^(+)T细胞绝对值计数、CD4^(+)CD28^(+)T细胞绝对值计数、CD8^(+)CD28^(+)T细胞百分比和绝对值计数明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。ESCC组Ⅲ-Ⅳ期CD4^(+)PD-1^(+)T细胞百分比明显高于Ⅰ-Ⅱ期;而CD4^(+)CD28^(+)T细胞百分比和绝对值计数明显低于Ⅰ-Ⅱ期(P<0.05)。血清PD-L1的含量与ESCC患者的临床进展密切相关,且具有较高预测价值(P<0.05)。PD-L1高值组CD4^(+)PD-1^(+)T细胞百分比明显高于低值组(P<0.05),而CD4^(+)CD28^(+)T细胞百分比和绝对值计数、CD8^(+)CD28^(+)T细胞百分比和绝对值计数明显低于低值组(P<0.05)。结论:ESCC患者血清PD-L1水平与T淋巴细胞表面抗原PD-1和CD28表达水平密切相关,这可能是其抑制T淋巴细胞免疫功能、促进ESCC细胞免疫逃逸的重要因素之一。

Specific CD8^+ T cell response immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and viral hepatitis

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), chronic hepatitis B(CHB) and chronic hepatitis C(CHC) are characterized by exhaustion of the specific CD8^+ T cell response. This process involves enhancement of negative costimulatory molecules, such as programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4(CTLA-4), 2B4, Tim-3, CD160 and LAG-3, which is linked to intrahepatic overexpression of some of the cognate ligands, such as PD-L1, on antigen presenting cells and thereby favouring a tolerogenic environment. Therapies that disrupt these negative signalling mechanisms represent promising therapeutic tools with the potential to restore reactivity of the specific CD8^+ T cell response. In this review we discuss the impressive in vitro and in vivo results that have been recently achieved in HCC, CHB and CHC by blocking these negative receptors with monoclonal antibodies against these immune checkpoint modulators. The article mainly focuses on the role of CTLA-4 and PD-1 blocking monoclonal antibodies, the first ones to have reached clinical practice. The humanized monoclonal antibodies against CTLA-4(tremelimumab and ipilimumab) and PD-1(nivolumab and pembrolizumab) have yielded good results in testing of HCC and chronic viral hepatitis patients. Trelimumab, in particular, has shown a significant increase in the time to progression in HCC, while nivolumab has shown a remarkable effect on hepatitis C viral load reduction. The research on the role of ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab on HCC is currently underway.

类风湿关节炎患者外周血中Tim-3、PD-1、TIGIT在CD4^(+)T和CD8^(+)T细胞上的表达

目的探讨类风湿关节炎(RA)患者外周血中T细胞免疫球蛋白和黏蛋白结构域3(Tim-3)、程序性细胞死亡蛋白1(PD-1)及T细胞免疫球蛋白和ITIM结构域蛋白(TIGIT)在CD4^(+)T和CD8^(+)T细胞上的表达情况及其与DAS28评分的相关性。方法选取2021年3月至2023年4月于宁夏医科大学总医院风湿免疫科确诊为RA患者60例为研究对象,另选取同期在宁夏医科大学总医院体检中心行健康检查者30例为健康对照组。根据DAS28-ESR评分将RA患者分为疾病活动期(疾病活动组,30例)和疾病缓解期(疾病缓解组,30例)。收集所有研究对象新鲜血液样本,采用流式细胞术检测3组外周血中Tim-3、PD-1和TIGIT分子分别在CD4^(+)T细胞和CD8^(+)T细胞上的表达情况。结果疾病活动组患者的病程长于疾病缓解组,且两组中女性多于男性(P均<0.05)。RA患者疾病活动组中DAS28评分、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、红细胞沉降率(ESR)、C-反应蛋白(CRP)、补体3(C3)和类风湿因子(RF)水平均高于疾病缓解组(P均<0.05)。而抗环瓜氨酸肽(CCP)抗体、IgG、IgA和IgM在两组患者中差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。RA患者疾病活动组和疾病缓解组RF、IL-6、ESR和CRP均高于健康对照组(P均<0.05)。RA疾病活动组患者中Tim-3、PD-1和TIGIT在CD4^(+)T细胞上的表达以及PD-1和TIGIT在CD8^(+)T细胞上的表达均高于健康对照组(P均<0.05)。RA患者疾病缓解组Tim-3、PD-1和TIGIT在CD4^(+)T细胞上的表达,以及PD-1和TIGIT在CD8^(+)T细胞上的表达均低于疾病活动组(P均<0.05)。健康对照组和疾病缓解组间Tim-3、PD-1和TIGIT分子表达差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。CD4^(+)T细胞表达Tim-3(r=0.584,P<0.001)、PD-1(r=0.525,P<0.001)和TIGIT(r=0.576,P<0.001)分子与DAS28评分呈正相关。CD8^(+)T细胞表达PD-1(r=0.464,P<0.001)和TIGIT(r=0.620,P<0.001)分子与DAS28评分呈正相关。结论Tim-3、PD-1和TIGIT在CD4^(+)T细胞和CD8^(+)T细胞上的异常表达影响RA患者的病情活动,这些异常表达的分子可能作为评价RA患者病情活动度的指标。