Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the expression of TSLP in human lung cancer tissue and the correla -tion between TSLP expression and number of regulatory T cells(Tregs). Methods:The expression of TSLP mRNA and protein was detected in different pathological lesions of the lung by Q-RT-PCR and immunohisto-chemistry. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect Foxp3 + Tregs. The correlation of TSLP with the number of Tregs was analyzed. Results: TSLP gene was expressed in tumor tissues (n=37), latero-tumor tissues ( n=29) and non-tumor lung tissues ( n=24), without statistical difference (P=0.148 ). TSLP protein was expressed in the cytoplasm and was observeed in 69.57% of tumor tissues, 13.33% of benign lesions and30.00% of non-tumor lung tissues, with a significant difference ( P<0.05). The expression of TSLP protein was correlated with tumor size ( P=0.000 ) and lymph node metastasis ( P=0.018 ). The number of Tregs in TSLP positive group was more than that in TSLP negative group (P<0.05). Conclusion:The expression of TSLP in lung tu-mor tissues is increased and is correlated with the number of Tregs, indicating that TSLP could induce Treg to play an important role in tumor immunotolerance.