It has been reported that an increased population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is one of the reasons for impaired anti-tumor immunity. Recently, Foxp3 has been reported as a reliable marker of Tregs. The authors investigated the frequency of Foxp3 1 Tregs within CD4 1 cells in TILs, regional lymph nodes and PBLs of gastric cancer patients (n 5 45). Furthermore, to elucidate the mechanisms behind Treg accumulation within tumors, they evaluated the relationship between CCL17 or CCL22 expression and the frequency of Foxp3 1 Tregs in gastric cancer. CD4 1 CD25 1 Foxp3 1 Tregs as a percentage of CD4 1 cells were counted by flow cytometry and evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, an in vitro migration assay using Tregs derived from gastric cancers was performed in the presence of CCL17 or CCL22. As a result, the frequency of Foxp3 1 Tregs in TILs was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa (12.4% 6 7.5% vs. 4.1% 6 5.3%, p < 0.01). Importantly, the increase in Tregs in TILs occurred to the same extent in early and advanced disease. Furthermore, the frequency of CCL17 1 or CCL22 1 cells among CD14 1 cells within tumors was significantly higher than that of normal gastric mucosa, and there was a significant correlation between the frequency of CCL17 1 or CCL22 1 cells and Foxp3 1 Tregs in TILs. In addition, the in vitro migration assay indicated that Tregs were significantly induced to migrate by CCL17 or CCL22. In conclusion, CCL17 and CCL22 within the tumor are related to the increased population of Foxp3 1 Tregs, with such an observation occurring in early gastric cancer. ' 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: CCL17; CCL22; Foxp3; regulatory T cells; gastric cancer It has been reported that regulatory T cells (T regs) play important roles in immunological self-tolerance, 1-4 and are functionally immune-suppressive subsets of T cells. T regs are identified as a small population of CD4 1 cells that constitutively express CD25 (IL-2 receptor a chain) on their surface, and several other markers, including CD45RO, glucocorticoid-induced tumor-necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR), or cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), are also known to be expressed on T regs. [3][4][5] Recently, it has been reported that Foxp3, forkhead/ winged helix transcription factor, is the most reliable marker of T regs 6,7 ; therefore, it is possible to define T regs more strictly as CD4 1 CD25 1 Foxp3 1 cells.In mice, it is known that auto-immune diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease occur due to the depletion of T regs. 6,8 Also in humans, immune dysregulation polyendocrinopathy enteropathy X-linked syndrome (IPEX) is an auto-immune disease developed from a deficiency of T regs. [8][9][10][11] These observations indicate that T regs play important roles in immunological homeostasis. Although the mechanisms of suppression by T regs are still unclear, it has been reported that T regs can inhibit the function of effector T cells directly by cell to cell contact or indirectly via the se...

Optical coherence tomography is a feasible imaging modality in patients with AMI and allows us to identify not only plaque rupture, but also fibrous cap erosion, intracoronary thrombus, and TCFA in vivo more frequently compared with conventional imaging techniques.

Atorvastatin therapy at 20 mg/day provided a greater increase in fibrous cap thickness in coronary plaques compared with 5 mg/day of atorvastatin. The increase of fibrous cap was associated with the decrease in serum atherogenic lipoproteins and inflammatory biomarkers during atorvastatin therapy. (Effect of Atorvastatin Therapy on Fibrous Cap Thickness in Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography: The EASY-FIT Study; NCT00700037).

We previously identified three novel HLA-A24-restricted epitope peptides, which were derived from three cancer-testis antigens, TTK protein kinase (TTK), lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus K (LY6K), and insulin-like growth factor (

Serial OCT examinations demonstrated markedly different vascular response up to 9 months after SES implantation between UAP and SAP patients. Although the inadequate lesion morphologies after stenting were observed more frequently in UAP patients, these findings were not associated with adverse outcomes in patients with antiplatelet therapy.

It has been reported that the population of regulatory T cells (T regs) is increased in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in cancer-bearing hosts. Recently, forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3, Foxp3, is thought to be the most reliable marker of T regs. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and localisation pattern of Foxp3 þ cells in gastric cancer (n ¼ 80) by immunohistochemistry, in relation to the clinical outcome of gastric cancer patients. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with anti-Foxp3 mAb, and Foxp3 þ cells were semiquantified. We divided all cases into two groups: Foxp3 þ -high (n ¼ 40) and Foxp3 þ -low (n ¼ 40) groups, by the median size of the population of Foxp3 þ cells. Furthermore, in terms of the localisation pattern of accumulating Foxp3 þ cells in tumours, we classified all cases into three groups: a peri-tumour group (n ¼ 30), a diffuse group (n ¼ 40), and a follicular group (n ¼ 10). As a result, although the populations of Foxp3 þ cells in stage IV were significantly larger than those in stage I (Po0.05), there was no significant difference in survival between the patients with high and low population levels of Foxp3 þ cells. However, survival in patients with a diffuse pattern of Foxp3 þ cells was significantly poorer than in those with a peritumoral pattern. In conclusion, the localisation pattern, but not the population size, of Foxp3 þ cells was significantly related to patient survival.

Although Th17 cells reportedly play critical roles in the development of autoimmunity and allergic reactions, information on Th17 cells in cancer‐bearing hosts is still limited. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of Th17 cells in relation to regulatory T cells (Treg) in the tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), regional lymph node lymphocytes, and peripheral blood lymphocytes of gastric cancer patients. Interleukin (IL)‐17‐producing CD4(+) cells as Th17 cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) cells as Treg were evaluated by flow cytometry and expressed as a percentage of the total CD4+ cells, in addition to performing a Th1/Th2 balance assay. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining for IL‐17 and FoxP3 were performed. In TILs from patients with early disease (n = 27), the frequency of Th17 cells was significantly higher than that in the normal gastric mucosa (23.7 ± 8.9 vs 4.5 ± 3.1%). In TILs from patients with advanced disease (n = 28), the frequency of Th17 cells was also significantly higher, but lower compared to early disease, than that in the normal gastric mucosa (15.1 ± 6.2 vs 4.0 ± 2.0%). This observation for Th17 cell‐distribution was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. When the ratio of Th17/Treg in TILs was evaluated in individual cases, it was more markedly increased in early than in advanced disease. In conclusion, the accumulation of Th17 cells as well as Treg in the tumor microenvironment of gastric cancer occurred in early disease and then the infiltration of Th17 cells gradually decreased according to the disease progression, in contrast to increased Treg. (Cancer Sci 2010; 00: 00–00)

Background Both the number and function of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to be impaired in patients with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, we investigated the effect of glucose on the senescence of EPCs. Methods and Results EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood and characterized to evaluate the effect of glucose (in 5-12.5 mmol/L) on the rate of senescence by acidic -galactosidase staining. The phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) level was analyzed by ELISA. The exposure of cultured EPC to high glucose (HG; 12.5 mmol/L) significantly accelerated the rate of senescence compared with that in osmolar control (L-glucose) during 10 days culture. An inhibitory effect of HG on EPC proliferation disclosed by an MTS assay. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in EPCs was also increased by glucose compared with control in a dose-dependent manner. HG-induced EPC senescence was significantly inhibited by the addition of an inhibitor of the p38 MAPK, SB203580. Conclusions HG accelerates the onset of EPCs senescence leading to the impairment of proliferative activity, which might be related to the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. (Circ J 2006; 70: 1076 -1081