Quantitative analysis of Th1, Th2 and TGF-beta1 cytokine expression in tumor, TIL and PBL of non-small cell lung cancer patients.
For understanding the local immune response in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we investigated both Th1 and Th2-type as well as TGF-beta1 cytokine mRNA expression in 10 fresh tumor biopsies, the corresponding tumor and short term TIL cell lines as well as patient PBMC. A methodology based on a highly sensitive quantitative RT-PCR was used. We found that IL-6 mRNA was highly expressed in all tumor biopsy samples analyzed (4 LLC, 3 ADC and 3 SCC). IL-10 mRNA was expressed in 7 of 10 biopsies whereas IL-4 mRNA expression was moderate. Analysis of type I cytokines revealed a low expression level of IL-2 mRNA, while IFNgamma and GM-CSF expression was high in the majority of the tumor lesions studied. Quantitatively, high amounts of Th2-type cytokine mRNA were detected at the tumor site with IL-6 as the predominant lymphokine. A high mRNA expression level of the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF-beta1 was observed in all NSCLC. To identify the cell types responsible for the production of TGF-beta1, IL-6, IL-10 and GM-CSF at the tumor site, tumor and TIL cell lines were derived from the corresponding biopsies. All the 3 tumor cell lines analysed were found to express high amount of TGF-beta1 but not IL-10 mRNA, 2 expressing IL-6 and GM-CSF. Five short term TIL cell lines established in the presence of IL-2 expressed high level of IL-10, IL-4 and IFNgamma but not IL-2 mRNA. Strikingly, high expression of IL-10 mRNA was also observed in all 6 patient PBMC analyzed as compared to controls. Together, our results indicate the existence of a local and peripheral Th-2-type cytokine pattern in patients bearing NSCLC.
Asselin-Paturel
C
C
Cytokines et Immunologie des tumeurs humaines, U487 INSERM, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Echchakir
H
H
Carayol
G
G
Gay
F
F
Opolon
P
P
Grunenwald
D
D
Chouaib
S
S
Mami-Chouaib
F
F
D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta