Jandus C et al. - In a study to analyze the frequency and phenotype of regulatory T cells (Tregs), in both healthy donors and melanoma pts, based on the expression of transcription factor FOXP3, it was shown that local accumulation and differentiation of Tregs is, at least in part, tumor-driven, and illustrate a reliable combination of markers for their monitoring in various clinical settings Methods
The frequency and phenotype of Tregs was analyzed in both healthy donors and melanoma pts, based on the expression of the transcription factor FOXP3, which, to date, is the most reliable marker for Tregs, at least in mice
Results
FOXP3 expression is not confined to human CD25+/high CD4+ T cells, and these cells are not homogenously FOXP3+
The circulating relative levels of FOXP3+ CD4+ T cells may fluctuate close to 2-fold over a short period of observation and are significantly higher in women than in men
FOXP3+ CD4+ T cells are over-represented in peripheral blood of melanoma pts vs healthy donors
FOXP3+ CD4+ T cells are even more enriched in tumor-infiltrated lymph nodes and at tumor sites, but not in normal lymph nodes
In melanoma pts, a significantly higher proportion of functional, antigen-experienced FOXP3+ CD4+ T was observed at tumor sites vs peripheral blood
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