TY - JOUR T1 - Gastrointestinal Foxp3 expression in normal, inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. JF - Pathology Y1 - 2011 A1 - Villanacci, Vincenzo A1 - Not, Tarcisio A1 - Nascimbeni, Riccardo A1 - Ferrara, Fortunato A1 - Tommasini, Alberto A1 - Manenti, Stefania A1 - Antonelli, Elisabetta A1 - Bassotti, Gabrio KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Celiac Disease KW - Cell Count KW - Disease Progression KW - Esophagitis KW - Female KW - Forkhead Transcription Factors KW - Gastric Mucosa KW - Gastritis KW - Humans KW - Inflammatory Bowel Diseases KW - Lymphocytes KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Precancerous Conditions KW - Stomach Diseases KW - Stomach Neoplasms KW - Young Adult AB -

BACKGROUND: Foxp3(+) regulatory T lymphocytes (T-regs) represent an important regulatory cell subset in inflammatory, preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS: Inflammatory, preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (189 cases) were studied with the evaluation of Foxp3 regulatory T cells based on immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Few Foxp3(+) cells were found in controls and inflammatory conditions (oesophagitis, gastritis, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease); in preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions the number of Foxp3(+) cells was significatively increased.

CONCLUSIONS: In normal conditions the number of mucosal lymphocytes is very low throughout the gastro-intestinal tract; in active coeliac disease patients or on a gluten-free diet, only a slight increase in Foxp3(+) cells may be found. Gastrointestinal cancers are associated with higher Foxp3(+) cell proportion, compared with microscopically normal tissue and with precancerous conditions. However, it is uncertain whether the increase in these regulatory cells is a cause or a consequence of tumour progression.

VL - 43 IS - 5 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21670722?dopt=Abstract ER -