Immunological Characteristics between αβ T (DC) and γδ T (DC) Cells in the Spleen of Breast Cancer-Induced Mice

Objective To evaluate the antitumoral role of γδ T (DC) cells and αβ T (DC) cells in an experimental model of breast cancer. Methods Thirty female Balb/c mice were divided into 2 groups: control group ( n = 15) and induced-4T1 group ( n = 15), in which the mice received 2 × 10 (5) 4T1 mammary tumor cell line. Following the 28-day experimental period, immune cells were collected from the spleen and analyzed by flow cytometry for comparison of αβ T (DC) (TCRαβ (+) CD11c (+) MHCII (+) ) and γδ T (DC) (TCRγδ (+) CD11c (+) MHCII (+) ) cells regarding surface markers (CD4 (+) and C8 (+) ) and cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17). Results A total of 26.53% of γδ T (DC) - control group ( p < 0.0001) - the proportion of αβ T (DC) was lower in splenic cells than γδ T (DC) ; however, these 2 cell types were reduced in tumor conditions ( p < 0.0001), and the proportion of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17 cytokines produced by γδ T (DC) was higher than those produced by αβ T (DC) , but it decreased under conditions of tumor-related immune system response ( p < 0.0001). Conclusion Healthy mice engrafted with malignant cells 4T1 breast tumor presented T (DC) with γδ TCR repertoire. These cells express cytotoxic molecules of lymphocytes T, producing anti-tumor proinflammatory cytokines.