Immunological Characteristics between αβ TDC and γδ TDC Cells in the Spleen of Breast Cancer-Induced Mice

Polyana Barbosa Silva, Márcia Antoniazi Michelin, Millena Prata Jammal, Eddie Fernando Cândido Murta

 To evaluate the antitumoral role of γδ TDC cells and αβ TDC cells in an experimental model of breast cancer.  Thirty female Balb/c mice were divided into 2 groups: control group (n = 15) and induced-4T1 group (n = 15), in which the mice received 2 × 105 4T1 mammary tumor cell line. Following the 28-day experimental period, immune cells were collected from the spleen and analyzed by flow cytometry for comparison of αβ TDC (TCRαβ+ CD11c+MHCII+) and γδ TDC (TCRγδ+CD11c+MHCII+) cells regarding surface markers (CD4+ and C8+) and cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17).  A total of 26.53% of γδ TDC - control group (p < 0.0001) - the proportion of αβ TDC was lower in splenic cells than γδ TDC; however, these 2 cell types were reduced in tumor conditions (p < 0.0001), and the proportion of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17 cytokines produced by γδ TDC was higher than those produced by αβ TDC, but it decreased under conditions of tumor-related immune system response (p < 0.0001).  Healthy mice engrafted with malignant cells 4T1 breast tumor presented TDC with γδ TCR repertoire. These cells express cytotoxic molecules of lymphocytes T, producing anti-tumor proinflammatory cytokines.