Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes contain a higher proportion of FOXP3+ T lymphocytes in cervical cancer

Background/PurposeThe subpopulations and functions of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from cervical cancer (CC) are altered. Dysfunction of TIL could be partially because of the inhibition by regulatory T (Treg) cells. FOXP3 is the control gene for the Treg cells.MethodsWe investigated the distribution of TILs and FOXP3+ cells in CC (n = 10) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 8) tissues. Double-immunofluorescence and confocal-based image quantitative microscopic analysis were used to calculate the number of cluster of differentiation (CD)4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells around the tumor cells.ResultsThe CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ phenotype of Treg cells was accumulated around the tumor cells. CC contains a significantly higher proportion of the FOXP3+ T cells than in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (p < 0.001). Moreover, CC with lymph node metastasis has a higher proportion of the FOXP3+ T cells than that without lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe increased accumulation of Treg cells suggests that Treg cells are important in the immunopathogenesis of CC.