Assessment of Treg Cells CD4(+)CD25(+) in Chronic Cirrhotic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Egyptian Patients

Abstract

Background and Aims: Dysfunction of the host immune system in cancer patients can be due to a number of factors, including secretion of tumor-derived immunosuppressive factors or induction of immune tolerance against tumor-specific antigens. Several studies suggest that suppression of tumor-associated antigen reactivates lymphocytes by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. This study was designed to evaluate whether CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients exhibit an expanded Treg pool and to correlate it with liver tumor markers and grading. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 20 patients with cirrhotic liver disease (CLD), 15 HCC patients and 10 healthy control subjects. Alpha feto-protein (AFP), HBV and HCV antibodies were detected by EIA. HCV was confirmed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR. To evaluate HCC grading, abdominal ultrasound guided liver biopsy was done. Patients were categorized into moderately differentiated (grade II) and poorly differentiated (grade III) groups. Cytometric analysis of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in PBMCs was performed using anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD25, anti-CD45RA, and IgG-isotype control (FITC and PE). Results: Both CLD and HCC groups were 80% positive for HCV while only 20% of CLD and 11% of HCC patients were positive for HBV. The mean percentage of CD4+CD25+T cell population demonstrated a highly significant increase in comparing HCV to HCC patients [2.47±0.66 vs. 8.96±1.38 (P