Changes of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− regulatory T cells in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing surgery

Little is known about the regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood after surgery of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In this study, we investigated whether CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− regulatory T cells are decreased in the peripheral blood of NSCLC patients undergoing surgery. The study group (n=49) comprised NSCLC, and the control group (n=24) consisted of age- and sex-matched nonmalignant diseases. The prevalence of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− Tregs was analyzed using flow cytometry. The study group showed significantly higher percentage of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− Tregs than control. The percentage of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− Tregs increased with tumor stage. One way ANOVA test shows the significant differences between all subgroups. LSD test shows that there was a statistical significance between each of the two subgroups except stage II in CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs and control vs. each stage, stage I vs. stage III, and stage IV in CD8+CD28− Tregs. There is no significant difference among stages II, III, and IV in CD8+CD28− Tregs. No differences were found between squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. These levels were dropped significantly after operation. Furthermore postoperative Treg percentage in the early stages (stage I and stage II) was not statistically different from that of controls. Postoperative Treg percentage in advanced stage (III+IV) remained above the values shown by controls. Our findings indicate that the percentage of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− Tregs correlated with the pathological stage in NSCLC and tumor burden. •CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− tregs were Significantly higher in NSCLC than Controls.•CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD28− tregs increased with tumor stage and dropped significantly after operation.•Postoperative tregs in early stage was in the same level of controls while in advanced stage was higher than controls.