[Expression of regulatory T cells and natural killer T cells in peripheral blood of children with Wilms tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes and clinical significance of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) regulatory T cells (Treg) and CD3(+)CD16(+)CD56(+) natural killer T cells (NKT) in peripheral blood of children with Wilms tumor.

METHODS: Twenty-one children with Wilms tumor were enrolled as the case group, and twenty-one healthy children for physical examinations were enrolled as the control group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the levels of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) T cells and CD3(+)CD16(+)CD56(+) T cells in peripheral blood of two groups.

RESULTS: The level of Treg cells in peripheral blood of the case group was significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.05). The level of NKT cells in peripheral blood of the case group was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Treg cells and NKT cells play important roles in the occurrence and development of Wilms tumor. Treg cells and NKT cells may be useful indexes for evaluating immunological function in children with Wilms tumor.