title: Mononuclear cell infiltrate and HLA-DR expression in low grade astrocytomas. An immunohistological study of 23 cases.
abstract: Frozen samples from 23 low grade (grade I and II) astrocytomas were studied by means of a panel of monoclonal antibodies to macrophages, lymphocytes (and their subsets) and HLA-DR antigens. Macrophages were present in low to moderate numbers in 38%-86% of cases, the variance in figures depending on the antibody used. T lymphocytes, the majority of CD8 phenotype, were detected in low numbers in 78% of tumours. B lymphocytes were scanty in 22% (5/22) and totally absent in the remaining cases. HLA-DR antigen was expressed by tumour cells in 35% (6/17) of cases. These findings indicate that in some low grade astrocytomas there is a mononuclear cell infiltrate with macrophages and secondarily CD8+ lymphocytes playing the major role. The significance of these findings remains speculative at present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cruz-Sanchez
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Esiri
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Coakham
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens