Aim
In this study, we aimed to analyze the numbers of these cells in a population of B-ALL pediatric patients.
Conclusion
Our results indicate that B-ALL patients harbor high numbers of both MDSCs and Tregs cells. This pilot study opens a new avenue to investigate the mechanism mediating the emergence of these cells on larger number of B-ALL patients at different treatment stages.
Methods
Peripheral blood samples withdrawn from B-ALL pediatric patients (n = 45 before, during and after the induction phase of chemotherapy. Using multi parametric flow cytometric analysis. MDSCs were identified as Lin-HLA-DR-CD33+CD11b+; and Treg cells were defined as CD4+CD25+CD127-/low.
Results
Early diagnosed B-ALL patients showed significant increases in the numbers of MDSCs and Tregs as compared to healthy volunteers. During induction of chemotherapy, however, the patients showed higher and lower numbers of MDSCs and Treg cells, respectively as compared to early diagnosed patients (i.e., before chemotherapy). After induction of chemotherapy, the numbers of MDSCs and Treg cells showed higher increases and decreases, respectively as compared to the numbers in patients during chemotherapy.