Functionally distinct subsets of CD4+ regulatory T cells in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma are indicative of immune deregulation and disease progression

CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) mediate immune tolerance in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). However, Tregs are functionally heterogeneous. Recently, we reported that three distinct Treg subsets (resting Tregs, activated Tregs and cytokine-secreting CD45RA(-)Foxp3(low)CD4(+) T cells) vary in the peripheral circulation of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, the potential implication of these Treg subsets in LSCC immunity is unclear. Here, we report that activated Tregs and cytokine-secreting CD45RA(-)Foxp3(low)CD4(+) T cells were increased in LSCC patients compared with healthy donors (HD) (p<0.001, p<0.001), whereas resting Tregs were decreased (p<0.001). Activated Tregs inhibited the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells (p<0.001) and secreted lower levels of interleukin-2 (p<0.001), interferon- (p<0.001) and tumor necrosis factor- (p<0.001) compared with the cytokine-secreting CD45RA(-)Foxp3(low)CD4(+) T cells. Importantly, activated Treg prevalence was correlated with tumor stage (p=0.001) and nodal status (p=0.007). The prevalence of naive CD4(+) (p<0.001), naive CD8(+) (p=0.002), and Th1 T-cell subsets (p<0.001, p<0.001) was decreased in the LSCC patients. In conclusion, our findings showed that activated Tregs with suppressive activity are a distinct subset of Tregs in LSCC, and correlate with disease progression. Several immune system abnormalities in LSCC patients are represented by expansion of functionally activated Tregs, both in the circulation and tumor microenvironment along with decreased frequencies of naive T-cell populations and Th1-cell populations.