CD25+CD4+ regulatory т lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with prostate cancer and prostate adenoma

CD4+CD25+ regulatory Tcells (Treg) have been shown to inhibit the activation and function of T cells that participate in antigen-specific immune responses. Higher levels of Tregs have been reported in the peripheral blood of patients with several types of tumors. The aum of this work was the investigation of the number of CD4+CD25+ cells in peripheral blood of patients with prostate cancer (PC), prostate adenoma (PA) and urolithiasis as control group. Levels of Tregs in the peripheral blood of patients were measured by flow cytometry. Data were analyzed using unpaired Students t test. The levels of Tregs in the peripheral blood of patients with PC and PA were significantly higher than those in control group. These findings show the potential importance of Tregs in modifying immune responses not only in patients with PC but in patients with PA too. Although longer studies are necessary to confirm these findings, these studies also show for the first time the differences in Treg level in peripheral blood of patients with PA, and thus, provide a basis for immunotherapy trials involving the inhibition of Tregs in prostate adenoma and PCa patients.