FoxP3+ T-Cells in Patients with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Express Cytolytic Markers and Kill Autologous B-Cells

Lindqvist, Camilla AUppsala universitet,Enheten för klinisk immunologi (författare)

Recent reports indicate that infiltration of FoxP3+ cells into the tumor area may be associated with better overall survival of patients with B-cell malignancies, which is in contrast to patients with non-hematopoetic tumors. Here, we demonstrate a possible mechanism to these findings. Since the tumor cell in lymphoma originates from the immune system we hypothesized that FoxP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) may have a suppressive role in tumor progression in patients with B-cell malignancies. Peripheral blood was collected from 14 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and their Tregs were evaluated for cytolytic markers such as FasL and CD107a. We found that both conventional Tregs (CD4+ FoxP3+CD127low T-cells) and FoxP3+CD127high T-cells were significantly increased in patients with B-CLL compared to healthy controls. Further, both groups of FoxP3+ cells displayed higher expression of the degranulation marker CD107a indicating perforin/granzyme release. A flow cytometry-based cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that purified Tregs from both patients and healthy controls could kill autologous B-cells in vitro. In conclusion, FoxP3+ T-cells in patients with CLL show effector phenotype and may be involved in tumor cell control by their natural capacity to kill B-cells.

Christiansson, Lisa HUppsala universitet,Enheten för klinisk immunologi (författare)
Mangsbo, Sara MLeiden University Medical Center (författare)
Tötterman, Thomas HUppsala universitet,Enheten för klinisk immunologi (författare)
Simonsson, Bengt (författare)
Olsson-Strömberg, Ulla (författare)
Loskog, Angelica SIUppsala universitet,Enheten för klinisk immunologi (författare)
Uppsala universitetEnheten för klinisk immunologi (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Lindqvist, Camil ...; Christiansson, L ...; Mangsbo, Sara M; Tötterman, Thoma ...; Simonsson, Bengt; Olsson-Strömberg ...; visa fler...; Loskog, Angelica ...; visa färre...

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