The expression of histocompatibility-related leukocyte antigens in the pathway to cervical carcinoma.
The major histocompatibility complex probably plays a crucial role in the efficacy of the cellular immune response against virally infected cervical diseases. Therefore, the allele-specific histocompatibility-related leukocyte antigens (HLA) class I and II expression on normal (n = 10), premalignant (n = 25), and malignant cervical tissue (n = 30) was investigated. No alterations in monomorphic or locus/allele-specific HLA class I or II expression were observed in normal and premalignant epithelial tissue. In cervical carcinomas, however, a reduced expression of HLA class I antigens was present in 70% of the cases, comprising a monomorphic class I loss in 20%, and an allele-specific loss in 50% of HLA-A2-, 66% of A3-, 56% of Bw4-, and 37% of Bw6-positive patients. De novo expression of class II antigens was observed in 80% of the cervical carcinomas, with the sublocus products being expressed in the order HLA-DR > HLA-DQ > HLA-DP. The authors' results show that alteration in HLA expression is a process confined to malignant cells, which may allow tumors to evade immune surveillance. In addition, these findings have to be considered as new strategies of immunotherapy using cytotoxic T lymphocytes are developed.
Hilders
C G
CG
Department of Pathology, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
Houbiers
J G
JG
Krul
E J
EJ
Fleuren
G J
GJ
D000483:Alleles; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II