Regulatory T cells (Treg) are important regulators of anti-cancer immune responses, and an increase in Treg frequency was observed in the blood of cancer patients. Blood samples from 112 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma antigen (HNSCC) were obtained at the time of tumour diagnosis, and lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3(+); CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(+); CD4(+); CD8(+); CD19(+); CD4(+)CD45RA(+)) with emphasis on Treg counts (CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)), complete blood count and tumour markers (squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]; CEA; alpha-1-antitrypsin [AAT]; Cyfra 21-1; C-reactive protein [CRP]) were analysed. The data were grouped according to TNM classification, and their significance for the course of the disease at an interval of 1 year after the end of the therapy was determined. The percentage of CD8(+) cells increased and the CD/D8 ratio decreased with tumour grade. The ratio of B lymphocytes decreased in patients with locoregional metastases (11.25%versus 9.22%). Treg (15.2%) and CD4(+) cells (45.3%) increased, while NK cells (11.8%) decreased in HNSCC patients compared to controls (9.0%, 38.1% and 15.8%, respectively). The data obtained at time of diagnosis were used to assess the significance of tumour markers (SCC, Cyfra 21-1 and AAT) for evaluation of prognosis. The erythrocyte counts (4.64 x 10(12)/l versus 4.45 x 10(12)/l) and haemoglobin levels (14.58 g/dl versus 14.05 g/dl) decreased, while Treg counts (8.91%versus 15.70%) increased in patients with early recurrence. Our results show that examination of these parameters could be helpful for prognostication in HNSCC patients and aid improvement of treatment strategy.

• MeSH
• Antigens, CD immunology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Biomarkers, Tumor metabolism   MeSH
• Head and Neck Neoplasms blood   diagnosis   immunology   MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory metabolism   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell blood   diagnosis   immunology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antigens, CD MeSH
• Biomarkers, Tumor MeSH

OBJECTIVE: It is an open question whether multifunctional galectin-3 can be a serum marker in inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Western blots and commercial ELISA detected and quantitated the lectin immunocytochemistry using double labeling localized it in tissue sections. RESULTS: Serum concentrations were significantly increased in specimen of patients with active and remission-stage ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, associated with emerging positivity of CD14(+) cells. CONCLUSION: Enhanced concentration of galectin-3 in serum reflects presence of disease and points to its involvement in the pathogenesis.

• MeSH
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Crohn Disease blood   MeSH
• Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel MeSH
• Escherichia coli metabolism   MeSH
• Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate MeSH
• Fluorescent Dyes MeSH
• Galectin 3 blood   MeSH
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases blood   chemically induced   diagnosis   MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry MeSH
• Colitis chemically induced   MeSH
• Colon metabolism   MeSH
• Lectins metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipopolysaccharide Receptors analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Dextran Sulfate MeSH
• Colitis, Ulcerative blood   MeSH
• Blotting, Western MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate MeSH
• Fluorescent Dyes MeSH
• Galectin 3 MeSH
• Lectins MeSH
• Lipopolysaccharide Receptors MeSH
• Dextran Sulfate MeSH

Cellular activities in the regulation of growth or adhesion/migration involve protein (lectin)-carbohydrate recognition at the cell surface. Members of the galectin family of endogenous lectins additionally bind distinct intracellular ligands. These interactions with protein targets explain the relevance of their nuclear and cytoplasmic presence. Expression profiling for galectins and accessible binding sites is a histochemical approach to link localization with cellular growth properties. Non-cross-reactive antibodies for the homodimeric (proto-type) galectins-1, -2 and -7 and the chimera-type galectin-3 (Gal-3) as well as the biotinylated lectins were tested. This analysis was performed with the FaDu squamous carcinoma cell line and long-term cultured human and porcine epidermal cells as models for malignant and normal cells of squamous cell epithelial origin. A set of antibodies was added for phenotypic cell characterization. Strong nuclear and cytoplasmic signals of galectins and the differential reactivity of labeled galectins support the notion of their individual properties. The length of the period of culture was effective in modulating marker expression. Cytochemical expression profiling is a prerequisite for the selection of distinct proteins for targeted modulation of gene expression as a step toward functional analysis.

• MeSH
• Cell Differentiation physiology   MeSH
• Cell Nucleus metabolism   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Epithelial Cells metabolism   MeSH
• Phenotype MeSH
• Galectins metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Adhesion Molecules metabolism   MeSH
• Swine MeSH
• Growth Substances metabolism   MeSH
• Carbohydrates physiology   MeSH
• Signal Transduction physiology   MeSH
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Galectins MeSH
• Cell Adhesion Molecules MeSH
• Growth Substances MeSH
• Carbohydrates MeSH