Heparan sulphate epitope-expression is associated with the inflammatory response in metastatic malignant melanoma.
Heparan sulphate (HS) represents a heterogeneous class of molecules on cell membranes and extracellular matrices. These molecules are involved in a variety of biological processes, including immune responses, through their binding and functional modulation of proteins. Recently a panel of HS-epitope-specific, human single chain antibodies have been generated by phage display, facilitating analysis of the structural heterogeneity of HS in relation to pathological conditions. In a pilot study a heterogeneous staining pattern in melanoma metastases was observed with one of the clones (EW4G1). Using a double-staining technique, the expression of this epitope was studied in 12 metastatic melanoma lesions in relation to the presence of a CD3(+) cell infiltrate. Different staining patterns with EW4G1 were observed in the different lesions. The different staining patterns were associated with the presence and pattern of inflammation with CD3(+) cells. A pronounced staining pattern of blood vessels with EW4G1 was associated with a more or less brisk presence of CD3(+) cells, while a pronounced staining of tumour cells or tumour cell matrix or absence of staining with EW4G1 was associated with absence of CD3(+) cells. These results suggest a dualistic role for HS in the recruitment and intratumoural migration of CD3(+) cells, depending on the location of expression of its epitope recognized by EW4G1. Further characterization of the structural diversity of HS and its function in T-cell recruitment and migration is therefore warranted, since detailed understanding of this relation may provide new targets for therapeutic intervention, such that better homing and migration of T cells (in)to tumours might be achieved in immunologically based treatment strategies.
D000915:Antibody Affinity; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes / Q000378:metabolism; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
D017252:CD3 Complex; D000939:Epitopes; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D010446:Peptide Fragments