T lymphocytes and cytokine production in ascitic fluid of ovarian malignancies

The activation status of T lymphocytes and the presence of various cytokine s in ascitic fluid were examined to test peritoneal immunity in women with ovarian malignancies. Peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid were collected From 12 patients with primary ovarian cancer with ascites and 27 normal con trol subjects during laparoscopic examination. Lymphocyte subpopulations an d die expression of activation markers on T lymphocytes were analyzed by du al-color flow cytometry. The concentrations of various cytokines and solubl e interleukin (IL)-2 receptor-alpha were measured. CD8 T lymphocytes were t he main component of peritoneal lymphocytes, CD69 and HLA-DR but not CD25, were highly expressed on peritoneal T lymphocytes compared to those in peri pheral blood. In ascitic fluid of ovarian malignancies, CD4 T lymphocyte co ncentrations were further decreased, resulting in a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio . Decreased expression of CD69 and CD25 was also noted on T lymphocytes fro m ascites compared with T lymphocytes in normal peritoneal fluid, IL-1b, tu mor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha concentrat ions were increased significantly in the ascitic fluid of women with ovaria n cancer. The decrease in activation markers on T lymphocytes is suggestive of an immunosuppressive state, despite the presence of abundant stimulator y cytokines. The immunosuppression may be multifactorial, attributed. in pa rt, to the increased concentrations of soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha and othe r inhibitors.