CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, and CXCR3 expression in peripheral blood CD4+ lymphocytes in gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND: CD4+(TH1, and TH2) cell groups in the point of view of chemokine receptor expression were considered in blood of stomach cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The percentage of blood CD4+ T cells expressing chemokine receptors (before and after gastrectomy) was determined by flow cytometry (Becton Dickinson, USA) using the following chemokine receptor antibodies: anti-CCR5, anti-CXCR3, anti-CCR3 and anti-CCR4. RESULTS: The means of CD4(+) CCR5(+) expressing cells was 1.23% ± 0.90, 0.83% ± 0.34 and 1.34% ± 0.74 in control, pre- and post-operation groups, respectively. CD4(+) CXCR3(+) expressing cells were 19.09% ± 8.4, 16.95% ± 5.71 and 25.08% ± 9.31, respectively. Similar pattern was seen for CD4(+) CCR3(+) and CD4(+) CCR4(+) expressing cells. Pearson correlation analysis shows no relationship between CCR3 and CCR4 expressions on TCD4 cells (r = 0.211, P = 0.126). The complex expression TH1 (CD4(+) CXCR3(+) CCR5(+)) receptors determined 1.14% ± 0.54 for control group, 0.86% ± 0.49 for pre-T and 1.57% ± 0.67 for post-T group. Moreover, the TH2 (CD4(+) CCR3(+) CCR4(+)) expression was 1.60% ± 1.05 for control group, 1.57% ± 0.83 for pre-T and 1.27% ± 0.66 for post-treatment group. Pearson correlation analysis shows that only the CCR3 and CCR5 expression was statistically correlated (r = 0.321, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Due to low expression of CCR5 in TH1 and CCR3 in TH2 cells, it seems that utility of these is extremely limited for clinical evaluation, but not scientific purpose. Moreover, considering the CXCR3 for TH1 cells and CCR4 expression for TH2 cells, due to considerable expression, may be practical.