Phenotype analysis of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and lymphocytes in peripheral blood in patients with renal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
When checking tumour growth, a number of observations indicate that the immune system plays a significant role in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Infiltration by lymphocytes (tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, TILs) is more prevalent in RCC than any other tumours. T lymphocytes are the dominant population of TIL cells. Views concerning the role of T lymphocytic subpopulations, B lymphocytes and NK cells in an anti-tumour response are not established.


OBJECTIVE
The aim is to determine the phenotype and activation of T and B lymphocytic subpopulations and NK cells and to compare their representation in tumour stroma and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in patients with RCC.


METHODS
Samples of peripheral blood taken from the cubital and renal veins and tumour stroma cells were obtained from 44 patients in the course of their surgeries carried out due to primary RCC. TILs were isolated from mechanically disintegrated tumour tissue. Immunophenotype multiparametric analysis of PBL and TILs was carried out. Their surface and activation characteristics were determined by means of flow cytometer.


RESULTS
CD3+ T lymphocytes (69.7%) were the main population of TILs. The number of CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in TILs, 42.6% (p < 0.01), while CD4+ T lymphocytes were the majority population in peripheral blood, 41.35% (p < 0.001). The representation of CD3+/69+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in TILs, 32.9%, compared to PBL (p < 0.001). On the contrary, the numbers of CD3+/CD25+, CD8+/57+ and CD4+/RA+ (naive CD4+ T lymphocytes) were higher in PBL (p < 0.001). The differences in representation of (CD3-/16+56+) NK cells and CD3+/DR+ T cells in TILs and PBL were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The above-mentioned results prove that the characteristics and intensity of anti-tumour responses are different in compared compartments (tumour/PBL). CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes are the dominant lymphocytic population of TILs. The knowledge of the phenotype and functions of effector cells, which are responsible for anti-tumour response, are the basic precondition for understanding the anti-tumour immune response and the cause of its failure.
Kopecký
Otakar
O
Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Czech Republic. kopecky.otakar@nemocnicenachod.cz
Lukesová
Sárka
S
Vroblová
Vladimíra
V
Vokurková
Doris
D
Morávek
Petr
P
Safránek
Hynek
H
Hlávková
Dagmar
D
Soucek
Petr
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015703:Antigens, CD