Effects of twenty kinds of chemotherapeutic agents on the proliferation of Treg cells

Objective To observe the effects of 20 chemotherapeutic agents on the proliferation of Treg cells. Methods Twenty agents used in routine chemotherapy were selected and assayed on IL-2- induced Treg cell proliferation through CellTrace labeling and flow cytometry. Results After treatment with 12 chemotherapeutic agents at non-cytotoxic concentration, the proportion as well as the number of Foxp3+Treg cells in CD4+ T cells were significantly reduced. Conclusions Twelve chemotherapeutic agents including 3 tubulin interfering agents, 3 transcription and RNA synthesis interfering agents and 2 topoisomerase inhibitors inhibited the proliferation of Treg cells.