Increased expression of CD40 ligand on activated T cells of patients with colon cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Proper function of T lymphocytes is crucial for an effective destruction of cancer cells in vivo. Identifying the cell surface molecules on the T cells that may be involved in this antitumor response may help to elucidate immunological factors influencing the biology of human tumors.


METHODS
Differences in the antigen expression profile of unstimulated and stimulated peripheral blood T-lymphocytes from patients with colon cancer and from normal controls were determined using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Freshly isolated peripheral blood T cells of patients with colon cancer did not differ in their phenotype significantly from those of patients with nonmalignant diseases. In contrast, in vitro stimulated T cells of patients with colon cancer had a significantly increased expression of CD40 ligand (CD40L, CD154) compared with activated T cells of the control group; increased CD40L expression was also found in the CD4(+)- and CD8(+)-T-cell subpopulations.


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented support additional studies investigating the role of CD40L in the immune response against colon carcinoma.
Büning
Carsten
C
Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Charité, Campus Mitte der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Krüger
Katrin
K
Sieber
Thomas
T
Schoeler
Dagmar
D
Schriever
Folke
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D023201:CD40 Ligand