Original Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2012; 18(1): 34-43
Published online Jan 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i1.34
Increased numbers of Foxp3-positive regulatory T cells in gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric adenocarcinoma
Hsin-Hung Cheng, Guan-Ying Tseng, Hsiao-Bai Yang, Hung-Jung Wang, Hwai-Jeng Lin, Wen-Ching Wang
Hsin-Hung Cheng, Hung-Jung Wang, Wen-Ching Wang, Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
Guan-Ying Tseng, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Ton-Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu 30268, Taiwan
Hsiao-Bai Yang, Department of Pathology, Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu 30268, Taiwan
Hwai-Jeng Lin, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Author contributions: Cheng HH, Tseng GY and Yang HB contributed equally to this work; Wang WC designed experiments; Cheng HH, Tseng GY, Yang HB, Wang HJ and Lin HJ performed the research; Cheng HH, Tseng GY and Yang HB collected the data; Cheng HH, Wang HJ and Wang WC analyzed the data; Cheng HH, Tseng GY and Wang WC wrote the paper.
Supported by Grants from National Science Council, No. NSC98-2313-B-007-005-MY3, NSC98-3112-B-007-004 and NSC98-2627-B-007-013; partly from Boost Grant of National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Correspondence to: Wen-Ching Wang, Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. wcwang@mx.nthu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-3-5742766 Fax: +886-3-5742766
Received: March 4, 2011
Revised: June 20, 2011
Accepted: June 27, 2011
Published online: January 7, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To determine the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in gastric mucosa of patients with gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer.

METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of gastric antrum biopsy specimens from healthy controls (n = 22) and patients with gastritis (n = 30), peptic ulcer (n = 83), or gastric cancer (n = 32). Expression of CD4, CD25 and Foxp3 was determined by immunohistochemistry in three consecutive sections per sample.

RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, there was an increased number of CD25+ and Foxp3+ cells in patients with gastritis (P = 0.004 and P = 0.008), peptic ulcer (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and gastric cancer (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). The ratio of CD25+/CD4+ or Foxp3+/CD4+ cells was also significantly higher in all disease groups (P < 0.001, respectively). The number of CD4+, CD25+, and Foxp3+ cells, and the ratio of CD25+/CD4+ and Foxp3+/CD4+ cells, were associated with the histological grade of the specimens, including acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, lymphoid follicle number, and Helicobacter pylori infection. The number of CD4+, CD25+ and Foxp3+ cells, and the ratio of CD25+/CD4+ and Foxp3+/CD4+ cells, were negatively associated with intestinal metaplasia among gastritis (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002 and P = 0.002) and peptic ulcer groups (P = 0.013, P = 0.004, P < 0.001, P = 0.040 and P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION: Tregs are positively associated with endoscopic findings of gastroduodenal diseases and histological grade but negatively associated with intestinal metaplasia in gastritis and peptic ulcer groups.

Keywords: T regulatory cells, Helicobacter pylori, Gastroduodenal diseases, Intestinal metaplasia, Immunohistochemistry