Immunological Characteristics between αβ T_DC and γδ T_DC Cells in the Spleen of Breast Cancer-Induced Mice

Características imunológicas entre células T_DC αβ e T_DC γδ no baço de camundongos com câncer de mama induzido

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the antitumoral role of γδ T_DC cells and αβ T_DC cells in an experimental model of breast cancer.

Methods

Thirty female Balb/c mice were divided into 2 groups: control group (n=15) and induced-4T1 group (n=15), in which the mice received 2 x 105 4T1 mammary tumor cell line. Following the 28-day experimental period, immune cells were collected from the spleen and analyzed by flow cytometry for comparison of αβ T_DC (TCRαβ⁺ CD11c⁺MHCII⁺) and γδ T_DC (TCRγδ⁺CD11c⁺MHCII⁺) cells regarding surface markers (CD4⁺ and C8⁺) and cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17).

Results

A total of 26.53% of γδ T_DC- control group (p<0.0001) - the proportion of αβ T_DC was lower in splenic cells than γδ T_DC; however, these 2 cell types were reduced in tumor conditions (p<0.0001), and the proportion of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17 cytokines produced by γδ T_DC was higher than those produced by αβ T_DC, but it decreased under conditions of tumor-related immune system response (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

Healthy mice engrafted with malignant cells 4T1 breast tumor presented T_DC with γδ TCR repertoire. These cells express cytotoxic molecules of lymphocytes T, producing anti-tumor proinflammatory cytokines.

Keywords:
immunology; breast neoplasms; immunotherapy; T-lymphocytes; receptors