Immunological balance skewing Th1,Th17 towards Th2,Treg in OSCC of hamster induced by 7,12- dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that CD4 + helper T cells, such as Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg, play crucial roles in the immunological balance especially when the immune system is invaded by the tumor. Oral squamous cell carcinoma undergoes a process from normal epithelium to dysplasia. However, the dynamic equilibrium of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg remained unclear during the process of epithelial malignant transformation. The present study was performed to describe the changes of Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in golden hamsters induced Oral Potentially malignant Disorders (OPMDs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Using the carcinogenic agent 7,12-dimethylbenz [a]anthracene to smear the Syrian golden hamster cheek pouch mucosa every 3 days, OPMDs and oral squamous cell carcinoma models had been induced. Samples were obtained surgically from the hamster, grind into single cell suspension, and tested by flow cytometry. RESULT: With the increasing of Th2 and Treg has been the decreasing of Th1 and Th17 from normal epithelium to OPMDs and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Th1/Th2 ratio and Th17/Treg ratio were changing in the different lesion. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that the shift of Th1/Th2 balance to Th2 might involve in the occurrence and development of normal mucosal carcinogenesis, while the shift of Th17/Treg balance to Treg might involve in the occurrence of normal mucosal cancerization.