Potential Cellular Immunity Associated With Clinical Characteristics Of Vestibular Schwannoma

Objectives: To discuss the potential association between clinical characteristics and cellular immunity in vestibular schwannoma,by exploring the expression of CD3+,CD4+,CD8+ and Foxp3+ T lymphocytes in both vestibular schwannoma tumor tissue and peripheral circulation.Methods: Sixty-five patients and eight blank control samples of normal nerve were involved in this study.Course of disease,preoperative hearing level,tumor size and cystic degeneration,were recorded as patient's clinical characteristics.Fasting blood sample,paraffin section of tumor tissue were collected.The number of CD3+,CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in blood sample and the expression level of protein CD3,CD4,CD8 and Foxp3 in tumor tissue,were analyzed along with clinical information by flowcytometry and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results: No significance was observed among clinical characteristics and lymphocytes expression level in peripheral blood.In tumor tissues,protein CD4,CD8 and Foxp3 expressed more than those in normal nerve.CD4 and CD8 expression level showed positive correlation with preoperative hearing level,while Foxp3 showed negative correlation.CD8 expression level showed positive correlation with preoperative facial nerve function.None of T lymphocytes was responsible for tumor's cystic degeneration.Conclusion: The expression level of protein CD4,CD8 and Foxp3 in vestibular schwannoma tumor tissues showed correlation with patients' preoperative hearing deterioration and facial nerve function.