Different T-cell receptor (TCR) zeta chain expression in cervical cancer and its precursor lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Cervical cancer is associated with infection of epithelial cells with the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and HPV18. A functional signalling machinery in T-cells is required in order to successfully fight and eradicate HPV16+ transformed epithelial cells. One of the key signalling molecules associated with the T-cell receptor (TCR) is the homodimeric zeta chain molecule.


METHODS
28 formalin fixed und paraffin embedded samples of cervical tissue with cervical intraepithelial lesions CIN I (n = 3), CIN III (n = 7), invasive cervical carcinoma (CC) (n = 13) and normal cervical tissue (n = 5) has been evaluated for HPV-PCR und zeta chain immunohistochemistry. For immunohistochemistry a monoclonal IgG1 anti TZR zeta chain-antibody (mAb) has been used (clone 6B 10.2, Santa Cruz, Heidelberg, Germany). According to the performed Western-Blot analysis on peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) the used mAb has specifically recognized TCR zeta chains.


RESULTS
We show reduced protein zeta chain expression associated with invasive cervical cancer, but not with pre-invasive HPV16-positive lesions or HPV16-negative normal cervix tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, reduced TCR zeta chain expression is not necessarily linked to a chronic viral infection, nor to the presence of transformed cells, but rather to the stromal invasion of the cancer lesion.
Zehbe
I
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mainz, Germany.
Schmidt
M
M
Maeurer
M
M
Leo
C
C
Höckel
M
M
Pilch
H
H
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain