Function and recruitment of mucosal regulatory T cells in human chronic Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric adenocarcinoma.

• CD4(+)CD25(high) FOXP3-expressing regulatory T cells (Treg) can suppress immune responses to infections and tumors, thereby promoting microbial persistence and tumor progression. However, little is known about the phenotype and function of human mucosal Treg. Therefore, we analyzed the suppressive activity and homing phenotype of Treg in gastric mucosa of Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric adenocarcinoma patients. We found increased numbers of CD4(+)FOXP3(+) Treg in the tumor compared to tumor-free gastric mucosa. Gastric Treg cells were able to suppress H. pylori-induced T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production. Furthermore, gastric Treg expressed increased levels of l-selectin and CCR4, compared to non-Treg cells, suggesting that these receptors contribute to Treg recruitment. The presence of functional antigen-specific Treg in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa supports an important role for these cells in suppression of mucosal effector T cell responses, which probably contribute to bacterial persistence and possibly also to gastric tumor progression.

Nyckelord

Adenocarcinoma

immunology

Aged

Aged

80 and over

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes

immunology

Cell Movement

immunology

Chemokines

CC

metabolism

Female

Forkhead Transcription Factors

metabolism

Gastric Mucosa

immunology

Helicobacter Infections

immunology

Helicobacter pylori

immunology

Humans

Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit

metabolism

Lymphocyte Activation

immunology

Male

Middle Aged

Receptors

Chemokine

metabolism

Stomach Neoplasms

immunology

T-Lymphocytes

Regulatory

cytology

immunology

metabolism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)