FOXP3 expression accurately defines the population of intratumoral regulatory T cells that selectively accumulate in metastatic melanoma lesions.

ABSTRACT: Regulatory T (T(reg)) cells are often found in human tumors; however, their functional characteristics have been difficult to evaluate due to low cell numbers and the inability to adequately distinguish between activated and T(reg) cell populations. Using a novel approach, we examined the intracellular cytokine production capacity of tumor-infiltrating T cells in the single-cell suspensions of enzymatically digested tumors to differentiate T(reg) cells from effector T cells. Similar to T(reg) cells in the peripheral blood of healthy individuals, tumor-infiltrating FOXP3(+)CD4 T cells, unlike FOXP3(-) T cells, were unable to produce IL-2 and IFN-gamma upon ex vivo stimulation, indicating that FOXP3 expression is a valid biological marker for human T(reg) cells even in the tumor microenviron

SUBMITTER: Ahmadzadeh M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2954707 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature