Peripheral T Lymphocytes, Including FoxP3+ T-Cells, Exhibit a Cytotoxic Phenotype in Patients with B-Cell Lymphoma

• Recent studies have shown that high levels of FoxP3+ cells within lymphoma-affected lymph nodes are associated with a better outcome of patients with B-cell lymphoma. This finding is opposite to what has been seen in patients with solid non-hematopoietic tumors. In an attempt to better understand the role of FoxP3+ cell in lymphoma, we collected peripheral blood from 17 patients and determined the level of T regulatory cells (CD3+CD4+FoxP3+CD127low lymphocytes) and FoxP3+CD127high T-cells (CD3+CD4+FoxP3+CD127high lymphocytes). The two subgroups of FoxP3+ T-cells, as well as conventional FoxP3- T-cells, were further analyzed for presence of cytotoxic markers such as FasL and CD107a. Patient plasma was analyzed for the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β. Finally, the proliferative capacity of T-cells was assessed using Alamar Blue assay. In lymphoma patients, both FoxP3+ T-cells and conventional T-cells had elevated levels of cytotoxic markers. No significant increase in IL-10 or TGF-β was detected and most patient T-cells had a normal proliferative capacity. This is the first, to our knowledge, study showing a cytotoxic phenotype of FoxP3+ T-cells in patients with B-cell lymphoma.

Nyckelord

FoxP3

CD107a

FasL

B-cell lymphoma

T-cells

Treg

Immunologi

Immunology

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