Objective: To analyze the dynamic change of regulatory T cells in experimental murine mammary carcinoma model, and to investigate their effect on tumor progress.
Methods: Mouse mammary carcinoma models were established. The percentages of CD4+ CD25+ and CD4+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in the CD4+ T cells in tumor tissue, tumor draining lymph node and spleen were measured by FACS at 3 different time points after tumor challenge. The expression of CD25+ FOXP3 in CD4+ T cells was analyzed, and the expression of CD4+ T cells in T cells (CD3+) of tumor tissue.
Results: Compared with the normal control group, In mouse mammary carcinoma models, The percentages of CD4+ T cells to lymphocytes in lymph node and spleen were decreased in the late stage (P<0.05). The percentages of CD4+ CD25+ and CD4+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in the CD4+ T cells were markedly increased (P<0.05), The percentages of CD25+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in the CD4+ T cells were markedly increased also (P<0.05). In the tumor tissue, the percentages of CD4+ T cells and CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in T cells (CD3+) were increased in three weeks after the tumor challenge than one week (P< 0. 05). The percentages of CD4+ CD25+ and CD4+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in the CD4+ T cells have no change between one week and three weeks after tumor planting (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Regulatory T cells were significantly increased in malignant tumor model, and closely related to the development of tumor.