CD1a and antitumour immune response.
Primary immune response is based on the capacity of local professional antigen-presenting cells (whose prototype is represented by dendritic cells, DCs) to take up and present antigens to selected clones of T cells, but also to non-specific effector cells such as macrophages or natural killer cells. The four CD1 proteins, all of which share a limited homology to class I MHC proteins, are differently expressed in various cell types, of both mesenchymal and, as recently described, epithelial lineage. Regarding the role of CD1 molecules in the anti-tumour response, it has been reported that CD1+ dendritic cells are involved in the first steps of the primary immune response in a number of malignancies. Moreover, the presence of a high number of DCs in the tumoral or peritumoral area, as well as in the draining lymph nodes, has been shown to correlate with a better prognosis. A recent report on the presence of CD1a in metaplastic epithelial cells of Barrett esophagus introduced new questions about CD1a expression patterns. Moreover, the strong correlation between the lack of CD1a+ cells and the malignant evolution of the lesion may indicate a possible role of non-professional APCs in mediating and/or potentiating immune responses to tumours.
Human Anatomy Section, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Giampiero
G
La Rocca
Rita
R
Anzalone
Fabio
F
Bucchieri
Felicia
F
Farina
Francesco
F
Cappello
Giovanni
G
Zummo
D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D018949:Antigens, CD1; C419393:CD1a antigen