Restored T-cell activation mechanisms in human tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes from melanomas and colorectal carcinomas after exposure to interleukin-2.
We investigated the effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) exposure on T-cell signal transduction molecules and apoptosis markers in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) isolated from 20 melanoma and 16 colorectal carcinoma metastases and expanded in vitro for therapeutic reinfusion. Before IL-2 culture, TIL showed undetectable or very low levels of T-cell receptor (TCR) epsilon chain, p56(lck), Fas ligand (FasL) and Bax expression, while Bcl-2 values were elevated. Cancer cells were characterised by low or absent Fas and Bcl-2 and high Bax expression. Notably, they also expressed FasL. After 41-48 days of IL-2 culture, TCR epsilon chain and p56(lck) expression of TIL rose to median values of approximately 80 and 30% positive cells, respectively (P<0.001), FasL expression was detected in 45% cells from melanomas (P<0.001) and in 3% from colorectal carcinomas (P=0.09), and Bax-positive cells increased from 17.5 to 70% (P=0.005). Moreover, TCR zeta chain-positive cells were significantly increased from baseline (P=0.001), Bcl-2-positive cells dropped from 50 to 1% (P=0.007) and perforin content was high, while Fas expression was not significantly modified by IL-2 culture. In conclusion, our data suggest that the degree of immunosuppression in TIL from melanomas and colorectal carcinomas is very high, and the apoptosis markers' repertoire of cancer cells resembles that of immune-privileged tissue. Interleukin-2 culture appears to restore lymphocyte activation mechanisms, resulting in consistent FasL expression and perforin production.
De Paola
F
F
Department of Medical Oncology, Pierantoni Hospital, AUSL-Forli, Italy.
Ridolfi
R
R
Riccobon
A
A
Flamini
E
E
Barzanti
F
F
Granato
A M
AM
Mordenti
G L
GL
Medri
L
L
Vitali
P
P
Amadori
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / Q000378:metabolism; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; D017252:CD3 Complex; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D054353:Perforin; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)