CXC chemokine receptor 3 and CC chemokine receptor 4 expression in T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas with special reference to clinicopathological significance for peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified.
We recently reported expression of the chemokine receptors CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) and CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and showed a preferential expression of CCR4 and its association with an unfavorable outcome. In the present study, we extend our adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma study to other subtypes of T- and NK-cell lymphoma, to clarify whether a characteristic chemokine receptor expression pattern is obtained for each of the subtypes defined by the WHO classification. CXCR3 and CCR4 were rarely expressed in three well-defined subtypes, precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. A CXCR3-dominant expression pattern was observed in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, while a CCR4-dominant expression pattern was observed in mycosis fungoides in transformation and in anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma. CXCR3 and CCR4 were heterogeneously expressed in peripheral T-cell lymphomas, unspecified (PTCLU). We next focused on PTCLU and analyzed the clinical significance of the chemokine receptors and their association with FoxP3, a hallmark of immunoregulatory T (Treg) cells. Multivariate analysis showed that CCR4 expression was an independent and significant unfavorable prognostic factor (P < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between mRNA expression of CCR4 and FoxP3, suggesting a possible association of CCR4-positive tumors with Treg cells and thereby with an immunocompromised state. Chemokine receptors may be useful not only for further characterization of the T- and NK-cell lymphomas but also in predicting clinical outcomes for patients. We suggest that a specific therapy targeting the CCR4 molecule may be developed as an alternative treatment for patients with CCR4-positive tumors.
Department of Internal Medicine & Molecular Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Takashi
T
Ishida
Hiroshi
H
Inagaki
Atae
A
Utsunomiya
Yoshifusa
Y
Takatsuka
Hirokazu
H
Komatsu
Shinsuke
S
Iida
Genji
G
Takeuchi
Tadaaki
T
Eimoto
Shigeo
S
Nakamura
Ryuzo
R
Ueda
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
C515350:CCR3 protein, human; C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine