The role of monocytes/macrophages in TCR-zeta chain downregulation and apoptosis of T lymphocytes in malignant pleural effusions.
The aim of this study was to assess alterations of zeta chain expression and their relation to apoptosis of T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes were obtained from malignant pleural effusions (MPE) of 15 patients. The work focused on TCR-zeta chain expression, apoptosis of T lymphocytes, and on the content of monocyte/macrophages in effusions. Analysis was performed using three color flow cytometry combining CD3, TCR-zeta and TUNEL reaction. The content of tumor and monocyte/macrophage cells has been determined using CD3, CD14, and cytokeratins, as markers of distinct cell subpopulations. Our findings strongly indicate that decreased zeta chain expression in T cells depends on the content of monocyte/macrophage cells, and that the range of the decrease is inversely proportional to the number of monocytes/macrophages in the effusion. Those having low zeta chain expression were the main subpopulation of T cells undergoing apoptosis. These data suggest that decreased zeta chain expression in T cells in MPE may be related to the abundance of monocyte/macrophages in effusions.
Sikora
J
J
Chair of Clinical Immunology University of Medical Sciences, Poznari, Poland. jan-sikora@wp.pl
Dworacki
G
G
Giersz
R
R
Zeromski
J
J
D017209:Apoptosis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000378:metabolism; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain