title: Melanocyte-specific immune response in a patient with multiple regressing nevi and a history of melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regressing nevi are considered an example of an efficient early antitumoral response preventing the development of neoplasia. The underlying mechanism has not been elucidated, although an immune-based destruction of melanocytes is supposed. The aim of this study was to provide evidence of an effective immunosurveillance of pigment lesions in a patient at high risk of melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with the dysplastic nevus syndrome and a history of melanoma was included in this study. Since 2003, a marked regression of almost all nevi was observed. Immunohistochemistry was performed and the antigen specificity of T-cells was analyzed on T-cells isolated from a regressing nevus by flow cytometry using HLA-A2-peptide tetramers containing Mart-1(26-35), gp100(280-288), gp100(209-217) and tyrosinase(369-377). Immunohistochemistry of the regressing nevi showed a strong infiltrate of CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells. Flow cytometric analyses demonstrated the presence of a CD8 + T-cell response against gp100(280-288) and Mart-1(26-35) both in peripheral blood and in a regressing nevus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that an immune reaction against melanocyte differentiation antigens can target specifically nevi without signs of vitiligo and suggests that boosting the anti-melanocyte immune response in patients at high risk for melanoma may prevent tumor development at an early stage.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Reinhart.Speeckaert@ugent.be
authors: Reinhart
authors: R
authors: Speeckaert
authors: Nanja
authors: N
authors: van Geel
authors: Rosalie M
authors: RM
authors: Luiten
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: van Gele
authors: Marijn
authors: M
authors: Speeckaert
authors: Jo
authors: J
authors: Lambert
authors: Karim
authors: K
authors: Vermaelen
authors: Esther P M
authors: EP
authors: Tjin
authors: Lieve
authors: L
authors: Brochez
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D058965:MART-1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase