CD28-, CD45RA(null/dim) and natural killer-like CD8+ T cells are increased in peripheral blood of women with low-grade cervical lesions

BACKGROUND: In response to antigen naive CD8+, T cells differentiate into effector cells, which express Natural killer (NK) receptors, lose CD28 expression, and die by apoptosis. However, in smaller quantities, the cells are retained for subsequent exposure to the same antigen. Knowledge is limited regarding whether the percentages of CD28-, Effector memory (EMRA(null/dim)), and the CD16+/CD56 + CD8+ T cells of women with low-grade cervical lesions are altered at a systemic level. METHODS: We enrolled in this study women controls and women with Human papilloma virus infection (HPV-I) without associated cellular neoplastic changes and with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplastic-I (CIN-I). Flow cytometry (FC) was performed for measurement of CD28-, memory subset, and NK-like CD8 + T cells, and IL-17, IFN-gamma, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, Interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2. Finally, we genotyped the HPV. RESULTS: The CIN-I group increased the CD8 + CD28− and CD16+/56+ T cell percentage compared with that of HPV-I and controls (p <0.01), and CD8 + CCR7-CD45RA(null/dim) (EMRA(null/dim)) T cells were also increased in the CIN-I group compared with the controls (p <0.01). These two study groups were HPV- genotyped; 49% were HPV18+, and we did not observe differences in cytokine levels among all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of CD28-, EMRA(null/dim), and CD16+/CD56 + CD8+ T cells of peripheral blood in women with CIN-I may be associated with persistent HPV infection and could exert an influence on progression to cervical cancer. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12935-014-0097-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.