Objective: To investigate the influence of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells(Treg cells) on mouse gastric cancer.
Methods: Treg cell in mouse spleen bearing gastric tumor was tested in different time points. Magic cell sorting(MACS) method was used to purify mouse Treg cells and the Treg cells were injected into mouse bearing gastric tumor with different dosage. After 3 weeks, the tumor size and tumor cell apoptosis rate were measured.
Results: Treg existed in normal mouse spleen with a rate of (3.86+/-0.07)%. In tumor model this percentage increased gradually and was (4.12+/-0.13)% after 3 weeks, which was significantly higher than that in control. When Treg cell applied in mouse reached 2.0 x 10(5), the tumor size enlarged significantly(P=0.013) and tumor cell apoptosis rate decreased significantly (P=0.012).
Conclusions: Treg cell is associated with gastric cancer progress in mouse tumor model. Treg cell can promote gastric cancer growth and decrease tumor apoptosis. The anti- Treg GITR can improve anti- tumor effects.