Increased number of cytotoxic CD3+ CD28- gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood of patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
A rise of CD3+ TCRgammadelta+ CD28- T cells has previously been observed after an in vitro long-lasting activation or even during viral infection.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CD28 on lymphocytes bearing CD3/TCRgammadelta receptors in cancer, i.e. cutaneous melanoma.


METHODS
TCRgammadelta lymphocytes were analysed in 41 Caucasian melanoma patients and 39 healthy individuals by flow cytometry. Patients were stratified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical stage.


RESULTS
The number of circulating CD3+ TCRgammadelta+ T cells was significantly increased in both AJCC stages I-II and AJCC stage III patients compared with healthy individuals. This increase was mediated by an accumulation of the CD3+ TCRgammadelta+ CD28- T-cell subset, which expressed a high amount of perforin both in normal individuals and melanoma patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This work shows, for the first time, a rise of the cytotoxic CD3+ TCRgammadelta+ CD28- T-cell population in melanoma patients, which may be important in anticancer surveillance.
Campillo
José A
JA
Immunology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain.
Martínez-Escribano
Jorge A
JA
Minguela
Alfredo
A
López-Alvarez
Rocío
R
Marín
Luis A
LA
García-Alonso
Ana M
AM
Bensussan
Armand
A
Alvarez-López
María Rocío
MR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta