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Flow cytometry‐based enumeration and functional characterization of cd8 t regulatory cells in patients with multiple myeloma before and after lenalidomide plus dexamethasone treatment
Author(s) -
Muthu Raja Karthick Raja,
Plasil Martin,
Rihova Lucie,
Pelcova Jana,
Adam Zdenek,
Hajek Roman
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
cytometry part b: clinical cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1552-4957
pISSN - 1552-4949
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.b.21109
Subject(s) - cd8 , flow cytometry , foxp3 , immune system , cytotoxic t cell , immunology , dexamethasone , multiple myeloma , biology , medicine , chemistry , cancer research , in vitro , biochemistry
Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cells frequently associated with immune abnormalities. Several studies have confirmed that in MM immune deregulation can be mediated by increased numbers of CD4 T regulatory (Treg) cells, and these cells were also associated with poor outcome. In this study, we aimed to study CD8 Treg cells before and after lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (len‐dex) treatment in MM patients. Methods Using flow cytometry, we enumerated and assessed suppressive function of CD8 Treg cells in 16 MM patients before and after len‐dex treatment. Results Numbers of CD8 Treg cells (CD8+CD25hi+FoxP3+) ( P < 0.01) were significantly increased in MM patients (before treatment) compared to healthy donors. However, no significant changes were observed in CD4 and CD8 T cells. A significant increase in CD8 Treg cells was observed after len‐dex treatment compared to pre‐treatment but no significant difference was observed in CD4 and CD8 T cells. Proliferation assay data showed that CD8 Treg cells inhibited proliferation of CD4 T cells and IFN‐γ secretion in a concentration dependent manner. Suppressive activity of CD8 Treg cells did not differ significantly between healthy donors, untreated and len‐dex treated MM patients. A significant abnormal level of IL‐10 was observed from proliferation assays of untreated and len‐dex treated MM patients compared to healthy donors ( P ≤ 0.03). Conclusions Using flow cytometry, we have shown that suppressive CD8 Treg cells are increased in MM patients and len‐dex treatment is unable to control these suppressive CD8 Treg cells. © 2013 International Clinical Cytometry Society