title: Characterization of the mononuclear infiltrate in basal cell carcinoma: a predominantly T cell-mediated immune response with minor participation of Leu-7+ (natural killer) cells and Leu-14+ (B) cells.
abstract: We investigated the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in 22 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) from 18 patients using a series of monoclonal antibodies. In all the 22 BCC the infiltrate consisted mainly of T cells (55 +/- 15%) and only in three cases an invasion of the tumor nests by these cells was observed. The T helper (TH) subset predominated over the T suppressor/cytotoxic (TS/C) subset (TH/TS/C ratio of 1.9 +/- 0.8). In 8 of 22 BCC mild infiltrate was observed with 48 +/- 13% T cells and a TH/TS/C ratio of 1.5 +/- 0.6. In 14 of 22 BCC moderate to heavy infiltrate with 59 +/- 15% T cells and a TH/TS/C ratio of 2.0 +/- 1.0 was observed. There was a significant difference in the percentage of T cells in BCC with moderate to heavy infiltrate and that in BCC with mild infiltration. The mean percentage of HLA-DR+ cells was 54 +/- 11%; Langerhans cells (LC) 4 +/- 5%; and Leu-M5+ (monocytes and macrophages) 16 +/- 11%. Less than 2% Leu-14+(B) cells were seen in the infiltrate. The mean percentage of Leu-7+ (natural killer) cells was 4 +/- 4%, and only 1 of 22 BCC Leu-7+ cells invaded tumor nests, contacting with tumor cells. From these results we concluded that T cells play a major role in the defence against BCC proliferation. The main role of Langerhans cells and Leu-M5+ cells may be that of antigen presentation. B cells and NK cells probably play a minor role in the local defence against BCC proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermato-Venereology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Habets
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tank
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Vuzevski
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: van Reede
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stolz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Joost
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000502:physiology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte