Subpopulations of T-helpers in regional lymph nodes in colorectal cancer

Abstract

The study of the subpopulation composition of T-helpers and the expression of co-inhibitory proteins on their surface in regional lymph nodes is necessary for the development of new methods of targeted therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective – to study the subpopulation composition of T-helpers in regional lymph nodes in patients with CRC.

Materials and methods. The subpopulation composition of T-helpers in regional lymph nodes, as well as the expression of co-inhibitory molecules (CTLA-4, PD-1, TIM-3) by CD4-positive cells in 105 patients with stage III CRC were determined by flow cytometry. The control group consisted of 75 patients who underwent colon surgery for non-neoplastic diseases.

Results. In patients with colorectal cancer, the number of naive T-helpers (CD3+CD4+CD45RA+CCR7+) in the lymph nodes decreases by 1.7 times, the relative content of central memory T-helpers (CD3+CD4+CD45RA-CCR7+) increases, and the number of effector memory T-helpers (CD3+CD4+CD45RA-ССR7-) decreases. On the surface of T-helpers in the regional lymph nodes of patients with colorectal cancer, the expression of CD57 increases by 5.6 times, the co-inhibitory molecule CTLA-4 – by 7.9 times and the PD-1 protein – by 1.5 times.

Conclusions. In patients with CRC, changes in the subpopulation composition of T-helpers in regional lymph nodes occur, which is expressed in a decrease in the proportion of naive cells and more differentiated T-helpers of effector memory with a simultaneous increase in the percentage of central memory cells. In CRC, the expression of co-inhibitory molecules (CTLA-4 and PD-1) on T-helpers in regional lymph nodes increases.