Myeloid and lymphoid dendritic cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of non-small cell lung cancer patient--a pilot study.

PURPOSE Dendritic cells (DCs) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are the first protecting barrier against different pathogens (viruses, bacteria and neoplasms cells). Immature myeloid- and lymphoid dendritic cells possess ability to phagocytose and present antigens to lymphocytes. They have also ability to produce IL-12, which is also known as natural killer cell stimulatory factor or cytototoxic lymphocyte maturation factor. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the relationship between percentage of immature dendritic cells and percentage of CTLs subtypes in peripheral blood of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study population consisted of 10 patients suffered from NSCLC (the mean age: 61.8 +/- 10.55). The monoclonal antibodies and three-color flow cytometry technique was applied to determine the cells phenotype in peripheral blood. RESULTS Significant negative correlation (R = -0.693, p < 0.05) between percentage of lymphoid DCs and percentage of CTLs was shown. The myeloid to lymphoid DCs ratio significantly positively (R = +0.638, p < 0.05) correlated with the percentage of CTLs. The significant negative correlation between the percentage of myeloid DCs and the percentage of CTLs-IL-12R-positive cells, as well as expression of this receptor were also ascertained (R = -0.68, p < 0.05 and R = -0.757, p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In presented pilot study we demonstrated clearly relationship between the percentage of immature DCs and the percentage and the phenotype of CTLs in peripheral blood of lung cancer patients.