Recruitment and significance of Th22 cells and Th17 cells in malignant ascites

Abstract

T helper (Th)22 and Th17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of types of cancer. However, the function of Th22 and Th17 cells in malignant ascites (MA) remains unknown. The present study aimed at examining the distribution, phenotypes, recruitment, and prognostic value of Th22 and Th17 cells in MA from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 26 patients with HCC with MA and 15 healthy controls were included in the present study. The proportion of Th22 cells, Th17 cells, C-C motif chemokine receptor (CCR)4, CCR6 and CCR10 were examined using flow cytometry. Interleukin (IL-)22, IL-17, C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)20, CCL22 and CCL27 were investigated using ELISA. In addition, the chemoattractant activity of chemokines for Th22 and Th17 cells were examined via a chemotaxis assay. The results of the present study demonstrated that Th22 cells, Th17 cells, IL-22 and IL-17 were significantly increased in MA compared with the corresponding blood and peripheral blood from healthy controls. Additionally, Th22 cells expressed increased concentrations of CCR6, CCR4 and CCR10, and Th17 cells expressed increased concentrations of CCR4 and CCR6 in MA compared with the corresponding blood. The chemotaxis assay revealed that CCL20/CCR6, CCL22/CCR4 and CCL27/CCR10 were responsible for the recruitment of Th22 cells into MA, whereas CCL22/CCR4 was responsible for the recruitment of Th17 cells. Furthermore, the patients with an increased number of Th17 cells exhibited an increased survival time compared with patients with a limited number of Th17 cells. Th22 and Th17 cells serve an important function in the development of MA, and the accumulation of Th22 and Th17 cells in MA may be due to a local increase in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Increased Th17 cell numbers in MA may indicate the improvement of patient survival.

Pathogenic implication of epidermal scratch injury in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

“…117 Like Th17 cells, CCL20 chemoattracts Th22 cells because they express CCR6. 118,119 The pathogenic role of Th17 and Th22 infiltration remains elusive in Th2-dominant AD. However, Guttman-Yassky et al 117 clearly demonstrated that a blockade of Th2 signaling by dupilumab significantly decreases and normalizes not only Th2 signatures, but also Th17 and Th22 signatures, in lesional skin of patients suffering from AD.…”

Prognostic significances of interleukin-17-producing cells and Th17 cells in malignant cancers: a meta-analysis of the literatures

“…[56]. As for Th17 cells, most of the included studies sampled from PBMC, though one study sampled from malignant ascites [64], one from fresh tumor tissues [63] and another one from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) [69]. The level of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of cancer patients is frequently founded to be higher than that in normal control, which might suggest an underlying inflammatory status [35].…”

“…Besides, the increased accumulation of Th17 cells in malignant ascites was reported to indicate improved patient survival [64]. Overall, the actual role and underlying mechanism of Th17 cells in tumor microenvironment still remain largely unclear, while IL-17 + cells seem to play a pro-tumor function.…”

“…Finally, we also investigated the impact of Th17 cells on OS in 10 studies with 727 patients (Fig 4.C) [18,19,56,[63][64][65][66][67][68][69]. The Th17 cells were identified by flow cytometery analysis in all included studies.…”

“…The Th17 cells were identified by flow cytometery analysis in all included studies. Most of included studies analysis Th17 cells were sampled from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), of which one Prognostic values of IL-17 + /Th17 cells in cancers: a meta-analysis 18 study sampled from fresh tumor tissues [63] and another study sampled from malignant ascites [64]. Pooled HR showed no statistically significant association was discovered between high Th17 cells and OS (HR=0.93, 95% CI [0.58, 1.49]).…”