Distribution of circulating follicular helper T cells and expression of interleukin‑21 and chemokine C‑X‑C ligand 13 in gastric cancer

  • Authors:
    • Xinying Meng
    • Xinjuan Yu
    • Quanjiang Dong
    • Xiaona Xu
    • Jinghua Li
    • Qianqian Xu
    • Jian Ma
    • Changhong Zhou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 10, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9112
  • Pages: 3917-3922
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Abstract

Circulating follicular helper T (cTfh) cells are a novel subset of cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ helper T cells. Interleukin (IL)‑21 and C‑X‑C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)13 are the principal effectors and chemotactic regulatory factors of Tfh. However, the roles of IL‑21 and CXCL13 in gastric cancer have not yet been completely elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of cTfh cells, and the expression of IL‑21 and CXCL13 in patients with gastric cancer was evaluated in order to ascertain the significance and potential mechanisms of these effectors in gastric cancer. A total of 50 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled as the study subjects, with 30 healthy individuals selected as controls. The percentage of cTfh cells (cTfh%) in the peripheral blood was calculated using flow cytometry. They are identified in the present study as CD4+ chemokine C‑X‑C receptor (CXCR)5+ inducible T cell co‑stimulator (ICOS)+ cells. The serum levels of IL‑21 and CXCL13 were determined by ELISA. The cTfh% in the peripheral blood and the concentration of IL‑21 and CXCL13 in the serum were significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer compared with the control group. cTfh% was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis, Tumor‑Node‑Metastasis (TNM) stage III‑IV and low differentiation. The concentrations of IL‑21 and CXCL13 in patients with lymph node metastasis and/or TNM III‑IV were significantly higher than in those without lymph node metastasis or with TNM I‑II. There was a positive correlation between cTfh%/CXCL13 and IL‑21/CXCL13, while there was no correlation between cTfh%/IL‑21. cTfh cells and associated factors (IL‑21/CXCL13) may be involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer. There may be mutual regulation among cTfh cells, IL‑21 and CXCL13.
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September-2018
Volume 16 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Meng X, Yu X, Dong Q, Xu X, Li J, Xu Q, Ma J and Zhou C: Distribution of circulating follicular helper T cells and expression of interleukin‑21 and chemokine C‑X‑C ligand 13 in gastric cancer. Oncol Lett 16: 3917-3922, 2018.
APA
Meng, X., Yu, X., Dong, Q., Xu, X., Li, J., Xu, Q. ... Zhou, C. (2018). Distribution of circulating follicular helper T cells and expression of interleukin‑21 and chemokine C‑X‑C ligand 13 in gastric cancer. Oncology Letters, 16, 3917-3922. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9112
MLA
Meng, X., Yu, X., Dong, Q., Xu, X., Li, J., Xu, Q., Ma, J., Zhou, C."Distribution of circulating follicular helper T cells and expression of interleukin‑21 and chemokine C‑X‑C ligand 13 in gastric cancer". Oncology Letters 16.3 (2018): 3917-3922.
Chicago
Meng, X., Yu, X., Dong, Q., Xu, X., Li, J., Xu, Q., Ma, J., Zhou, C."Distribution of circulating follicular helper T cells and expression of interleukin‑21 and chemokine C‑X‑C ligand 13 in gastric cancer". Oncology Letters 16, no. 3 (2018): 3917-3922. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9112