title: Expression of inhibitory natural killer receptors on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocyte lineage in human endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: To investigate the expression of natural killer receptors (NKRs) within the human tumor milieu, we directly examined the in vivo expressions of various NKRs on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) derived from human endometrial carcinoma (EC). In total, 22 patients with stage IA-IIIA EC were enrolled. TILs were isolated from tissue specimens by means of a mechanical dispersal technique. The subpopulations of immunocytes were quantified, and expressions of NKRs on CD8+ T cells were analyzed by triple-color flow cytometry. CD8+ T cells express higher ratios of CD94 and NKG2A in TILs than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in human EC. Flow cytometry reveals that 15.90% of CD3+CD8+ TILs compared with 2.10% of CD3+CD8+ PBMCs express the NKG2A molecules (P < 0.001). The percentage expressions of CD94 are 8.40% in CD3+CD8+ TILs and 3.80% in CD3+CD8+ PBMCs (P= 0.013). The numbers of CD8+ T cells expressing CD158b and NKB1 are higher in CD3+CD8+ PBMCs in EC than in normal (CD158b: 10.70% vs 2.60%, P < 0.001; NKB1: 2.20% vs 0.40%, P= 0.018, respectively). Increased expression of CD94/NKG2A restricted to tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell subsets may shape the cytotoxic responses, which indicate a possible role of tumor escape from host immunity in human EC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, and Graduate Institute of Immunology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: W-C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: S-C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: P-L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Torng
authors.forename: D-Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: W-C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: S-N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: B-C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sheu
mesh_terms: D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011971:Receptors, Immunologic