Recent thymic emigrants and subsets of naive and memory T cells in the circulation of patients with head and neck cancer

Apoptosis of circulating CD8+ T lymphocytes is a frequent finding in patients with cancer. T-cell output by the thymus or antigen-driven expansion of circulating T cells could compensate for apoptosis and thus normalize their homeostasis. We studied the frequency of recent thymic emigrants (RTE) ide...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.). - 1999. - 116(2005), 1 vom: 30. Juli, Seite 27-36
1. Verfasser: Kuss, Iris (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Schaefer, Carsten, Godfrey, Tony E, Ferris, Robert L, Harris, Jeffrey M, Gooding, William, Whiteside, Theresa L
Format: Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2005
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.)
Schlagworte:Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Apoptosis of circulating CD8+ T lymphocytes is a frequent finding in patients with cancer. T-cell output by the thymus or antigen-driven expansion of circulating T cells could compensate for apoptosis and thus normalize their homeostasis. We studied the frequency of recent thymic emigrants (RTE) identified by T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) and of naive and memory T-cell subsets in peripheral blood samples obtained from 39 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and 33 age-matched controls (NC). TREC numbers were determined by real-time quantitative PCR, and CD8+CD45RO-CD27+ or CD4+CD45RO-CD27+ T-cell subsets were quantified by flow cytometry. Age-associated decreases in TREC numbers and proportions of naive CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell subsets were significantly greater in cancer patients than NC. In contrast, the memory compartment was expanded, with increased proportions of CD4+CD45RO+ but not CD8+CD45RO+ T cells, in cancer patients vs. NC. These alterations did not normalize in patients who were NED. The data suggest that lower thymic output combined with rapid turnover of naive CD8+ T cells account for altered lymphocyte homeostasis in HNC patients. The defect persists long after curative treatments and may contribute to immune cell dysregulation in patients with cancer
Beschreibung:Date Completed 09.08.2005
Date Revised 14.11.2007
published: Print
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1521-7035