Defects in the human leukocyte antigen class I antigen processing machinery in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: association with clinical outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen defects, which are frequently present in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells may provide the tumor with an escape mechanism from immune surveillance. Scanty information is available about mechanisms underlying HLA class I antigen defects in both lesions and cell lines from HNSCC. In this study, we investigate the role of antigen processing machinery (APM) component abnormalities in the generation of deficient HLA class I surface expression of HNSCC cells.


METHODS
Using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and RT-PCR analyses we correlated the expression of the IFN-gamma inducible proteasome subunits and of the peptide transporter TAP with that of HLA class I antigens in biopsies and cell lines from primary, recurrent, and metastatic HNSCC. Furthermore, APM component and HLA class I antigen expression in surgically removed lesions were correlated with the course of the disease in order to assess the clinical significance of deficient expression of these molecules.


RESULTS
A high frequency of LMP2, LMP7, and TAP1 down-regulation or loss was found in tumor lesions and cell lines obtained from HNSCC cancer patients. These defects could be corrected by incubating cells with IFN-gamma. Furthermore, LMP2, LMP7, TAP1, TAP2, and HLA class I antigen expression rates in primary HNSCC lesions were found to predict overall survival. Lastly, the level of LMP7 expression was significantly associated with disease recurrence at 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the analysis of APM component expression in HNSCC lesions can provide useful prognostic information in patients with HNSCC.
Meissner
Markus
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
Reichert
Torsten E
TE
Kunkel
Martin
M
Gooding
William
W
Whiteside
Theresa L
TL
Ferrone
Soldano
S
Seliger
Barbara
B
D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; C073119:TAP1 protein, human; C071313:LMP-2 protein; C071692:TAP2 protein, human; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C077436:LMP7 protein; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex