Changes and Clinical Significance of Th17/Treg Related Cytokines in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma before and after Radiotherapy

WANG Xiao-mei; PAN Su-ming; DU Ri-chang; MA Zhan-zhong; ZHOU Li-ping; QIAN Chun-yan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-3429.2017.03.030

Abstract：Objective To investigate changes and clinical significance of helper T cell/regulatory T cell (Th17/Treg) and related cytokines in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma before and after radiotherapy.Methods A total of 50 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma admitted during February 2015 and February 2016 were chosen as nasopharyngeal carcinoma group,and 50 healthy people taking medical examination at the same period were chosen as control group.Changes of Th17 and Treg cell proportions accounting for total T cell,and related cytokine levels were compared between two groups (before and after radiotherapy,and in follow-up for 3 month in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group).Results Compared with those in control group,serum Th17 and Treg cell accounting for total T cell proportions,interleukin (IL)-17,IL-23,IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 levels were significantly increased in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group (P<0.05).Compared with those before radiotherapy,serum Th17 cell proportion after radiotherapy,serum IL-17 and IL-23 levels were significantly increased after radiotherapy (P<0.05),and Treg cell accounting for total T cell proportion after radiotherapy,Th17 and Treg cell accounting for total T cell proportions in follow-up for 3 months,IL-17 and IL-23 levels in follow-up for 3 months,serum TGF-β1 and IL-10 levels were significantly decreased after radiotherapy and 3 month after radiotherapy (P<0.05).Compared with those after radiotherapy,serum Th17 and Treg cell accounting for total T cell proportions,IL-17,IL-23,IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels were significantly decreased 3 months after radiotherapy (P<0.05).Conclusion Radiotherapy can aggravate Th17/Treg immunodissonance of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma,and therefore immunotherapy should be supplemented during radiotherapy to improve immune function.