title: Morphological characteristics and co-stimulatory molecule (CD80, CD86, CD40) expression in tumor infiltrating dendritic cells in human endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate changes of the antigen-presenting function of tumor infiltrating dendritic cells (TIDCs) in human endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The TIDCs from 45 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma were compared with 20 cases of normal human endometrial tissue, using transmission electron microscopic examination, and the expression of CD80, CD86, and CD40 was analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, the ultrastructure of TIDCs in human endometrioid adenocarcinoma showed the following differences: numerous TIDCs were small in volume and round in shape but some were oval and multi-angular. The cytoplasmic processes were obviously decreased in number and stubbed. Round primary lysosomes with high electron-dense granules, and secondary lysosomes with high or low electron-dense granules were seen frequently in the cytoplasm. TIDCs contained much rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). Vacuoles with flocculent electron-dense granules were rare. High electron-dense contents in the granules were near one side and the other side was bright. The nucleus became markedly small in volume, nephroid or hoofed in shape. The nucleus had little euchromatin and lots of heterochromatin under the nuclear membrane. The levels of expression of CD80, CD86 and CD40 on TIDCs were low or even nonexistent. The expression levels of CD80, CD86 and CD40 on DCs in human normal endometrium were significantly higher than those on TIDCs in endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that morphological differences and low expression of co-stimulatory molecules on TIDCs in endometrioid adenocarcinoma reflected the functional changes of the TIDCs in uptake, processing and presenting antigen, which may lead to the occurrence of tumor immune escape.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, China. jiajianjun615@sohu.com
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Zineng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaomao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhixin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D048430:Cell Shape; D048429:Cell Size; D022083:Cytoplasmic Structures / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D021381:Protein Transport; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019139:Tumor Escape
chemical_list: D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D019013:CD40 Antigens; C497964:CD86 protein, human