Abstract 425
Aim/Background
Interleukin (IL)-17 is expressed in the tumor micro-environment where it appears to contribute to tumor development. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) studies, IL-17 has been associated with poor prognosis. However, the source of the increased tumor-infiltrating IL-17 in HCC and prognostic valve remain poorly understood.
Methods
59 HCC patients were enrolled in this study, immunofluorescence double stainwas used to evaluate the colocalization of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD56+ NK cells, CD20+ B cells, CD68+ Macrophages, and mast cell tryptase+ mast cells (MCT+ mast cells) with IL-17. The prognostic effect of groups with high and low MCT numbers was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model.
Results
MCT+ mast cells, but not other cells, were the predominant IL-17-producing cell type. In HCC patients, immunofluorescence double stain showed a positive correlation between the number of MCT+ mast cells and microvessels (MCVs) and the majority of vascular endothelial cells expressing IL-17 receptor (IL-17R). Overall survival analysis revealed that the increasing intratumoral infiltrated MCT+ mast cells were significantly associated with a poor prognosis.
Conclusions
These findings indicated the major source of IL-17 in HCC were MCT+ mast cells and these cells infiltration may promote tumor progression by enhancing angiogenesis through the axis of IL-17/IL-17R. Increased IL-17-positive MCT+ mast cells was associated a poor prognosis, indicating therapy targeting MCT+ mast cells might be an effective strategy in controlling intratumor IL- 17 infiltration and MCVs.
Clinical trial identification
no
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.