T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations in pre-invasive and invasive carcinoma of the cervix.
Lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with pre-invasive and invasive cervical carcinoma, other gynaecological malignancies and controls were studied. T lymphocytes were recognized by their ability to form spontaneous rosettes with sheep red blood cells (E rosettes). Two surface marker characteristics were used to detect B lymphocytes: the receptors for activated complement responsible for erythrocyte-antibody-complement (EAC) rosette formation, and surface membrane immunoglobulin (SMIg), which is readily stainable by immunofluorescence. There was a significant depression in T cells in association with invasive but not pre-invasive cervical carcinoma. The results for B cells varied according to the method used for their detection. EAC rosette-forming (EAC-RFC) were significantly raised in patients with invasive cancers but not in patients with pre-invasive cancer. SMIg-bearing cells were not significantly altered by the presence of malignant disease. The changes in E-RFC and EAC-RFC numbers were more marked in patients with extensive cancers. Possible functional implications of these findings are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell