The present study focuses on understanding the reasons for immune dysfunction in lung cancer (LC) patients and understanding role of cyclooxygenases (COX) inhibitors in modulating anti-tumor immunity. Lymphocytes of LC patients showed decreased proliferation when stimulated with mitogens, decrease in calcium flux, low expression of activation markers and low cytotoxic response with high generation of reactive oxygen species. These lymphocytes exhibited a marked decrease in IFN- and high IL-10 with decrease in transcription factor T-bet and increased expression of GATA-3.
T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) is a clonal lymphoid malignancy. The present project aimed at determining the incidence of clonal TCR and junctional gene rearrangement status in Indian T-ALL patients at diagnosis and analyzing the suitability of clonal TCR and junctional gene rearrangement status at diagnosis as a prognostic marker for T-ALL.
Alkylamines are the group of non peptidic molecules, which are capable of stimulating Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells. These alkylamines are secreted at millimolar concentrations in bacterial culture supernatants and also are found at high concentrations in tea and at lower concentrations in other edible plant products such as apples and wine. Our studies demonstrate, ethylamine in combination with cytokines IL-15 is able to activate γδ T cells. Activated γδ T cells express activation markers (CD69 and CD25) and chemokines receptors (CCR5 and CXCR4).
Immunosuppression appears to be more frequent and more profound in patients with head and neck cancer. The immune impairment often observed in these patients is not restricted to the tumor site but presents itself as a systemic defect. The project aims at understanding the molecular mechanism of CD3 ζ chain degradation, both at the mRNA and protein level. Studies demonstrate a marked reduction in lymphocyte proliferative responses, calcium flux and a strong TH2 bias in OC patients.