The Expression And Significance Of IL-17and FOXP3~+Treg Cells In Gastric MALT Lymphoma

Objective:To analysis the expression of IL-17and FOXP3+T(Treg)in chronic gastritis, Lymphocytic gastritis, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, the effect of Helicobacter pylori (HP) and clinical factors. To explore the function, relationship and clinical significance of IL-17and FOXP3+T(Treg).Methods:53patients were enrolled in the study from endoscopy room of the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from May2008to May2011. They were divided into groups of chronic gastritis, Lymphocytic gastritis and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma according to pathology. Patients were first diagnosed without Helicobacter pylori eradication, preoperative chemotherapy or immunotherapy in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma group. Helicobacter pylori was detected by13C Urea Breath Test in all patients. Acording to the result, they were didvided into positive and negative group. IL-17and FOXP3+T cells were detected by immunohistochemical method and further were anlysised these changes and relation with age, sex, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and their relevance.Results:1. The composition of sex and age was no significant difference in different groups.2. It was showed that the counts of IL-17were11.2±2.4per high magnification field in chronic gastritis,15.1±5.3per high magnification field in Lymphocytic gastritis and16.8±5.4per high magnification field in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, but no statistical significances between lymphocytic gastritis and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (P>0.05). There was increasing trend of expression of FOXP3+Treg cells in the cases of chronic gastritis, lymphocytic gastritis and gastric MALT lymphoma (P<0.05).(They were numerated as (30.8±7.2),(22.4±4.0) and (5.1±2.7) per high magnification field, respectively).3. The expression level of IL-17and FOXP3+Treg cells were significantly higher in Helicobacter pylori (HP) positive group than negative group (P<0.05).4. The expression of IL-17and FOXP3+Treg cells were not correlated with age and gender in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma patients (P>0.05). The expression of IL-17was correlated with tumor TNM stage, lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The expression of FOXP3+Treg cells was correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of gastric cancer (P<0.05). Positive correlation was shown between the density of the FOXP3+Treg cells and expression of IL-17in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (r=0.308, P<0.05).Conclusions:1. IL-17and FOXP3+Treg cells upregulated in the development of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma suggested that IL-17and FOXP3+Treg cells played an important role in the development of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma possibly.2. Helicobacter pylori (HP) may be one of the factors which induced upregulation of IL-17and FOXP3+Treg cells.3. The expression of IL-17was significantly correlated with the TNM stage of cancer and lymph node metastasis, but not with age and gender. The expression of FOXP3+Treg cells was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage.4. The expression of IL-17and FOXP3+Treg cells were positively correlated, which suggested they could promote the expression each other through direct or indirect way and had a synergistic effect.5. IL-17and FOXP3+Treg cells may become the gene targets for treatment and early intervention of gastric cancer and precancerous lesions through genetic engineering technology.