Expression and significance of regulatory T cells,NK cells and NKT cells in peripheral venous blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of the alteration of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells,CD3-CD57+ NK cells and CD3+CD57+ NKT cells in peripheral venous blood in patients of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The number and distribution of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells,CD3-CD57+ NK cells and CD3+CD57+ NKT cells in peripheral venous blood(31 pa-tients of HCC,59 patients of chronic hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis vs 48 healthy control) were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared with normal control and the group of chronic hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis,CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells were reduced significantly(P 0.05) in peripheral venous blood in patients of HCC,while,CD3-CD57+ NK cells and CD3+CD57+ NKT cells were increased significantly(P 0.05).Conclusion CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells possibly participate in immune es-cape of hepatocellular carcinoma through inhibition of CD3-CD57+ NK cells and CD3+CD57+ NKT cells.