CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg and TGF-beta play important roles in pathogenesis of Uygur cervical carcinoma

The aim of the study was to evaluate the function of CD4+CD25+ and Foxp3+ T (Treg) cell and related cytokine in the Uygur patients with cervical carcinoma and CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia).

170 Uygur women were recruited in the study from January 2007 to January 2011. The study group was comprised of normal controls, cases of primary cervical carcinoma/CIN, and cervical carcinoma/CIN treated with surgery. The following parameters were examined: clinicopathologic features of patients, percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cell in blood and Foxp3 mRNA expression in CD4+CD25 high T cell concentration of serum cytokine. Women with primary cervical carcinoma/CIN after being treated with surgery were compared to the normal controls. Where appropriate, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the function of the Treg and related cytokine.

The percentages of CD4+CD25+ Treg were detected as well as in the blood of carcinoma patients and CIN II/III, but the number of cells was much higher compared to both control and CIN I groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant correlation between the expression of Foxp3 mRNA and pathological changes was found. The secretion levels of IL-10, and TGF-beta correlated positively with the process of carcinoma. Furthermore, after surgical operation, the number of Treg cells and related cytokines were decreased.

Finally, the authors would like to highlight that CD4+CD25+ Treg, especially the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg and TGF-beta play important roles in Uygur cervical carcinoma, and may have a correlation with survival. Therefore, the inhibitory function of TGF-beta depletion of Treg cells in combination with other anti-tumor therapies could optimize eradication of malignancies.