Increased frequency of antigen-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes infiltrating an Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma.
Gastric adenocarcinomas carrying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are known to be accompanied by massive lymphocyte infiltration. To characterize the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), we isolated and cultured such cells from a surgically resected EBV-associated gastric carcinoma. They were found to be positive for CD3, CD8, T-cell receptor beta chain, and cytotoxic molecules. The isolated TILs consisted of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I-restricted CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which killed autologous EBV-transformed cells (but not phytohemagglutinin blast cells) and recognized HLA-A24 as restriction molecules. However, the TILs did not recognize known EBV antigenic peptides presented by HLA-A24 molecules, nor HLA-A24(+) fibroblasts infected with vaccinia recombinant virus expressing each of the EBV latent proteins. EBV(+) gastric carcinomas do not express conventional target proteins of EBV-specific CTLs, and the data suggest that some cellular proteins may be involved in the strong T-cell response to EBV-associated gastric carcinoma. In addition, our data suggest that class I-restricted, antigen-specific CD8(+) CTLs are specifically expanded within EBV(+) gastric carcinoma tissue.
Laboratory of Viral Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya 464-0021, Japan. kkuzushi@aichi-cc.pref.aichi.jp
K
K
Kuzushima
S
S
Nakamura
T
T
Nakamura
Y
Y
Yamamura
N
N
Yokoyama
M
M
Fujita
T
T
Kiyono
T
T
Tsurumi
D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen