Detection of regulatory T cells and NK cells in peripheral blood of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and its clinical significance
10.13315/j.cnki.cjcep.2025.01.005
- VernacularTitle:甲状腺乳头状癌患者外周血Treg细胞和NK细胞检测及其临床意义
- Author:
Xin SUN
1
;
Yehai LIU
;
Meijuan ZHENG
Author Information
1. 安徽医科大学基础医学院免疫学教研室,合肥 230032;安徽医科大学第一附属医院检验科,合肥 230022
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
thyroid neoplasm;
Treg cells;
NK cells;
IL-10;
1,25-(OH)2-D3
- From:
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology
2025;41(1):23-31
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Purpose To explore the relationship between regulatory T cells(Treg cells)and natural killer(NK)cells with tumor occurrence and development in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC).Methods Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was performed on pathological tissue sections from patients with nodular goiter and PTC to evaluate im-mune cell infiltration.Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage and absolute count of Treg cells and NK cells in peripheral blood from healthy controls(HCs)and PTC patients.Treg cells phenotypes(ICOS、PD-1、Lag3)and their IL-10 secretion ability were analayzed,along with functional molecules(TNF-α、IFN-γ、Granzyme B、Perforin)ex-pressed by NK cells.A cytometric bead array was used to measure serum cytokine IL-10 concentration.Changes in Treg and NK cells and their correlations were analyzed.Results Immune cell infiltration in PTC tissues is higher than in nodular goiter tissue.Compared with healthy controls,PTC patients exhibited a significant increase in the percentage[(6.86±3.10)％]and absolute count[(4.97±2.82 × 106 cells/mL)]of circulating Treg cells,with an enhanced IL-10 secretion capacity[(7.18±3.57)％],which is related to lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion.Con-versely,NK cell percentage[(16.56±8.44)％]and absolute count[(3.29±3.12 × 106 cells/mL)]were reduced,with impaired effector functions.The NK-to-Treg cell ratio(2.49±1.60)significantly declined,and a negative corre-lation was observed between the percentage of the two groups cell types(P=0.04,r=-0.625).Serum IL-10 levels in PTC patients were elevated[(1.30±1.09)pg/mL],correlating with tumor size and lymph node metastasis.After treatment with 1,25-(OH)2-D3,PTC patients showed a reduction in the percentage[(7.01±2.13)％]and absolute count(4.27±1.62 × 106 cells/mL)of circulating CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg cells,and a decrease in serum cytokine IL-10 levels[(1.27±0.09)pg/mL].Circulating NK cells percentages[(20.6±6.72)％]and absolute counts[(5.63±2.93)× 106 cells/mL]partially recovered.Conclusion PTC patients exhibit a pronounced immunosup-pressive state.Dysregulated numbers and functions of Treg and NK cells are closely associated with the occurrence,de-velopment,and prognosis of PTC,highlighting their potential importance in tumor immunotherapy.
