Gastrointestinal Foxp3 expression in normal, inflammatory and neoplastic conditions

SummaryBackgroundFoxp3+ regulatory T lymphocytes (T-regs) representan important regulatory cell subset in inflammatory, preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.MethodsInflammatory, preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (189 cases) were studied with the evaluation of Foxp3 regulatory T cells based on immunohistochemistry.ResultsFew Foxp3+ cells were found in controls and inflammatory conditions (oesophagitis, gastritis, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease); in preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions the number of Foxp3+ cells was significatively increased.ConclusionsIn normal conditions the number of mucosal lymphocytes is very low throughout the gastro-intestinal tract; in active coeliac disease patients or on a gluten-free diet, only a slight increase in Foxp3+ cells may be found. Gastrointestinal cancers are associated with higher Foxp3+ cell proportion, compared with microscopically normal tissue and with precancerous conditions. However, it is uncertain whether the increase in these regulatory cells is a cause or a consequence of tumour progression.