Background: The aim of this study was to analyse changes in levels of memory T-lymphocytes during growth of SL2 tumours in DBA/2 mice and to evaluate whether these lymphocytes may have an inhibitory effect on tumour growth.
Materials and methods: Percentages of naïve (CD8+CD44lowCD62L+), central memory (CD8+CD44high CD62L+) and effector memory (CD8+CD44highCD62L-) lymphocytes in the CD8+ subset in peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes of tumour-bearing and control mice were analysed by flow cytometry.
Results: The percentage of effector memory lymphocytes in the CD8+ subset increased during growth of tumours, whereas that of naïve CD8+ lymphocytes decreased. No correlation between the levels of effector memory lymphocytes in peripheral blood and the mass of tumours was found.
Conclusion: SL2 tumours induce expansion of effector memory lymphocytes in DBA/2 mice. However, expanded effector memory lymphocytes do not inhibit the growth of tumours.