title: Expression of histocompatibility antigens and characterization of mononuclear cell infiltrates in normal and neoplastic colorectal tissues of humans.
abstract: Serial frozen sections were prepared from 22 colorectal carcinomas. Additional samples were obtained from the adjacent normal bowel in 10 patients, from 6 concomitant adenomas in 5 patients, and from another 4 isolated adenomas. Mononuclear cell infiltrates were stained by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique with the use of a panel of 6 mouse monoclonal antibodies to human leukocyte antigens. The degree of infiltration was graded from 4 (heavy) to 0 (nil). The colorectal carcinomas and adjacent normal bowel showed an equal degree of leukocyte infiltration (HLe-1), graded 3-4 in 8 cases and 2-3 in the other 2 cases. In 7 carcinomas cytotoxic-suppressor T-lymphocytes (UCHT-4) graded 2-3 predominated over helper T-cells (OKT-4) graded 0-1. By contrast, in the adjacent normal bowel cytotoxic and helper cells were present in equal numbers. Among the adenomas leukocyte infiltration was grade 4 in 9 and grade 3 in 1. In 9 of the 10 adenomas cytotoxic cells graded 2 predominated over helper cells graded 0-1. The number of helper cells was equivalent among 6 concomitant adenomas and carcinomas from 5 patients. Adenomatous epithelial cells expressed class II major histocompatibility complex antigens (OKIa-1). However, carcinomatous or normal epithelium showed only faint staining with OKIa-1. The similarity in cell infiltration is consistent with an adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The predominance of cytotoxic cells in carcinomas that expressed class I major histocompatibility complex supports the association between lymphocyte infiltration and a favorable prognosis.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Umpleby
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Symes
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006680:HLA Antigens