Tumor-infiltrating T cells in primary cutaneous B-cell lympho-proliferative disorders.
BACKGROUND
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are considered to play an important role in the antitumoral immune response. The presence and percentage of CD8-positive tumor-infiltrating T cells have been shown to correlate with differentiation and prognosis in various neoplasms. The aim of this study was to determine the number of CD8-positive T cells in various primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders and to evaluate its correlation with the histological type of tumor.


METHODS
Fifty-three lesions were examined by immunohistochemistry with antibodies targeting CD3, CD4, CD8 and TIA-1. Thirty-two lesions had been diagnosed as primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCL) and 21 as B-cell pseudolymphomas (B-PSL). CBCLs included 15 follicular lymphomas (FL), 6 marginal zone lymphomas (MZL), and 11 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (LCL). The number of CD8-positive cytotoxic T cells was determined by computer-assisted morphometrical microscopy.


RESULTS
No significant difference could be detected in the density of CD8-positive T cells in B-PSL (101/105 microm(2)), FL (110/105 microm(2)), and MZL (122/105 microm(2)). In contrast, the number of CD8-positive cells (55/105 microm(2)) in LCL was significantly lower (p<0.01) compared to B-PSL, FL and MZL.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary the number of CD8-positive T cells in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders differs in regard to tumor type and differentiation with lowest numbers in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. However, due to an overlap of the number of TILs, this parameter cannot be employed as a diagnostic parameter for individual cases.
Kamarashev
J
J
Department of Dermatology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Schaerer
L
L
Burg
G
G
Schmid
M H
MH
Müller
B
B
Kempf
W
W
D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D019310:Pseudolymphoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000074019:T-Cell Intracellular Antigen-1
D017252:CD3 Complex; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D000074019:T-Cell Intracellular Antigen-1; C071558:TIA1 protein, human