TREGS SUPPRESS MACROPHAGE TUMORICIDAL FUNCTIONS

Abstract

Macrophages are well-known for their tumoricidal functions. In order to ascertain the effect of Regulatory T cells (Tregs) on macrophage tumoricidal functions, macrophages purified from healthy individuals were co-cultured with Tregs for 48 hours and cytotoxicity assay was performed with macrophage sensitive lymphoma cells, U937. Results clearly suggested that Tregs significantly inhibit (p less than) macrophage mediated tumor cell killing, as observed in cultures using different E:T ratios.