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| Objectives: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) may be critical cytokines in the microenvironment of a tumor, playing roles in immune suppression. This study was conducted to elucidate the roles and immunosuppressive functions of these cytokines in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: The expression levels of TGF-β1, VEGF, and IL-10 in malignant tissue were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and compared with corresponding borderline, benign, and tumor-free tissue. Moreover, relationships among the levels of these cytokines and correlations between expression and the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer were analyzed by Pearson rank correlations and multi-factor logistic regression. The roles of TGF-β1, VEGF, and IL-10 in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of ovarian cancer were studied through dendritic cell (DC) maturation and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg generation in vitro experiments. Results: TGF-β1, VEGF, and IL-10 were expressed in 100%, 74.69%, and 54.96%, respectively, of EOC patients. TGF-β1 was an independent prognostic factor for epithelial ovarian cancer. IL-10 was significantly co-expressed with VEGF. In vitro, VEGF and TGF-1strongly interfered with DC maturation and consequently lead to immature DCs, which secreted high levels of IL-10 that accumulated around the tumor site. TGF-β1 and IL-10 induced Treg generation without antigen presentation in DCs. Conclusions: This study confirmed TGF-β1, VEGF, and IL-10 play important roles in EOC and lead to frequent immune evasion events. |
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| Keywords:Epithelial ovarian cancer; Tumor microenvironment; Immunosuppression |
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