Department of Organ Transplantation, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Department of Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital, Dezhou, China.
Thorac Cancer. 2023 Nov;14(33):3282-3294. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.15119. Epub 2023 Sep 21.
Th22 subset is a particular type of CD4 T helper cells subset. Our study aimed to explore the expression level of circulating Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells and the possible mechanism of these cells in breast cancer (BC) with different pathological features.
Our study enrolled 43 newly diagnosed BC patients and 30 healthy controls. Frequencies of peripheral Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells were tested by flow cytometry. Concentrations of IL-22 cytokine in plasma were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time PCR was done to test aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and RAR-associated orphan receptor C (RORC) gene expression.
Frequencies of Th22, Th17, Th2 subsets, and the plasma IL-22 level was obviously higher in the BC patients. A positive correlation between Th22 frequency and IL-22 concentration in plasma was detected in BC patients. Furthermore, the percentage of Th22, Th2 subsets in peripheral blood of HER2 positive BC was higher than that in HER2 negative BC patients. A negative correlation between Th1 subset and Ki-67% as well as a positive correlation between Th2 subset and Ki-67% was found in BC patients. The proportion of Th1 cells in BC patients was significantly lower than that of the control group. Expression of AHR and RORC transcription factors were also observed to be upregulated in the BC patients. Furthermore, Th22 cells were positively correlated with BC tumor stage and clinical outcomes. The BC patients with a higher percentage of Th22, Th17, Th1 cells or a lower percentage of Th1 cells showed a decreased trend of survival rate.
Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 subsets may play an essential role in BC patients. Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells may have potential significance to be used as clinical markers in BC patients with different molecular classification. Th22 cells may have potential value in BC patients' outcomes prediction, providing clinical value.
Th22 亚群是一种特殊的 CD4+T 辅助细胞亚群。我们的研究旨在探讨不同病理特征的乳腺癌（BC）患者外周血中 Th22、Th17、Th1 和 Th2 细胞的表达水平及其可能的机制。
我们的研究纳入了 43 例新诊断的 BC 患者和 30 例健康对照者。通过流式细胞术检测外周血 Th22、Th17、Th1 和 Th2 细胞的频率。通过酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测血浆中 IL-22 细胞因子的浓度。实时 PCR 检测芳香烃受体（AHR）和 RAR 相关孤儿受体 C（RORC）基因的表达。
BC 患者 Th22、Th17、Th2 亚群的频率和血浆 IL-22 水平明显升高。在 BC 患者中检测到 Th22 频率与血浆中 IL-22 浓度之间存在正相关。此外，HER2 阳性 BC 患者外周血中 Th22 和 Th2 亚群的百分比高于 HER2 阴性 BC 患者。在 BC 患者中，Th1 亚群与 Ki-67%呈负相关，Th2 亚群与 Ki-67%呈正相关。BC 患者 Th1 细胞的比例明显低于对照组。还观察到 BC 患者中 AHR 和 RORC 转录因子的表达上调。此外，Th22 细胞与 BC 肿瘤分期和临床结局呈正相关。BC 患者中 Th22、Th17、Th1 细胞的比例较高或 Th1 细胞的比例较低，其生存率呈下降趋势。
Th22、Th17、Th1 和 Th2 亚群可能在 BC 患者中发挥重要作用。Th22、Th17、Th1 和 Th2 细胞可能具有作为不同分子分类的 BC 患者临床标志物的潜在意义。Th22 细胞可能对 BC 患者的预后预测具有潜在价值，提供临床价值。
