T Regulatory Cell Developement and Apoptosis in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients
Jelena Blašciuk, Rėda Matuzevičienė
Cancer immunology is one of the most popular cancer research fields. Increased attention to this field was prompted by evidence that tumour cells are able to induce immunosuppression in tumour bearing host. The problem of tumour induced immunosuppression is overviewed as well as short history of cancer immunology research. We discuss about the possible mechanisms of T regulatory (Treg) cells induced immunosuppression and its influence on prognosis of disease. Obviously, CD4+ T regulatory lymphocytes play the key role in this tumour caused immunosuppression. Numerous studies were performed with different types of solid tumours as well as with haematological malignancies. The focus of attention is on alterations of Treg cells number in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. The possible ways of Treg cell hyper-formation via CD70-CD27 co-stimulation and an influence of this formation manner on changed apoptotic Treg profile are overviewed. The importance of Bcl family anti-apoptotic proteins in fludarabine resistance of Treg lymphocytes is mentioned. We discuss the possibilities of treatment with thalidomide and its analogs, chemotherapeutical drugs which reduce the level of transforming growth factor (TGF-P) or treatment with Bcl family anti-apoptotic proteins inhibitors. All these possibilities might be effective alternative for fludarabine therapy. The article gives overview of dendritic cell vaccination and related problems as well.
Keywords: Treg cells, B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Bcl fami ly proteins, fludarabine, tha lid o mide and thalidomide derivatives, dendritic cells vaccination.
