Expression and Clinical Significance of Immune Checkpoint Molecules on Peripheral Blood Th9 Cells in Gastric Cancer Patients
10.3969/j.issn.1008-7125.2025.01.001
- VernacularTitle:胃癌患者外周血Th9细胞表面免疫检查点分子表达及其临床意义
- Author:
Ye GU
1
;
Tongguo SHI
;
Weichang CHEN
Author Information
1. 苏州大学附属第一医院消化内科(215006);苏州市第五人民医院消化内科
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Stomach Neoplasms;
Tumor Immunity;
Immune Checkpoint;
Th9 Cells
- From:
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology
2025;30(1):1-8
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Background:Th9 cells are a newly identified subpopulation of CD4+helper T cells.Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a central focus in the realm of gastric cancer immunotherapy.However,the comprehension of the alterations within Th9 cells and the expression patterns of immune checkpoint molecules on their surface among gastric cancer patients remain limited.Aims:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of immune checkpoint molecules on Th9 cells in the peripheral blood of gastric cancer patients.Methods:A total of 74 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer and initially treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between June 2021 and September 2022 constituted the case group,while 34 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination during the same period served as the control group.The proportion of Th9 cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)and the surface expression of PD-1,TIM-3,B7-H3 and B7-H4 were assessed using flow cytometry.Subsequently,correlations of their expression levels and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of gastric cancer patients were preliminarily analyzed.Results:When compared to the control group,the proportion of Th9 cells in PBMCs of gastric cancer patients was significantly decreased,while the surface expression levels of PD-1,TIM-3,B7-H3,and B7-H4 were notably elevated(all P<0.05).Positive correlations were observed between TIM-3 and B7-H3,TIM-3 and B7-H4,as well as B7-H3 and B7-H4 on Th9 cells(all P<0.05).Gastric cancer patients aged 70 years or older demonstrated significantly higher levels of PD-1 expression on Th9 cells(P<0.05).Furthermore,low PD-1 expression was associated with a significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared to high expression(27.55 months vs.19.17 months,P<0.05).Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that high PD-1 expression was an independent risk factor for postoperative disease progression in gastric cancer patients(HR=3.398,95%CI:1.278-9.033,P=0.014).Conclusions:Peripheral blood Th9 cells,along with their surface immune checkpoint molecules,are hypothesized to exert a significant influence on the initiation and progression of gastric cancer.Alterations in PD-1 expression on Th9 cells might be intricately linked with the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.
