title: Immune response in cervical lymph nodes from patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deficient immune response in the cervical lymph nodes of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma may contribute to dissemination of metastatic neoplastic cells. This study evaluates the immune response in cervical lymph nodes from patients with primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The density of immature (CD1a(+)) and mature (CD83(+)) dendritic cells (DCs), cytotoxic T lymphocytes CD8(+) /perforin(+) (CTLs), and Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Tregs) cells in the lymph nodes of patients with OCSCC without cervical lymph node metastases (LN1) (negative) (n = 10) were identified through immunohistochemistry. From patients with cervical lymph node metastases, samples were obtained of lymph nodes both with (LM2) (positive) (n = 10) and without (LN2) (negative) (n = 10) metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that the number of CD1a(+) and Foxp3(+) cells was significantly higher in the LM2 group than in either the LN1 or the LN2 group. In addition, the number of CD8(+) /perforin(+) and CD83(+) cells was significantly lower in the LM2 group than in the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrate a higher density of immature DCs and Tregs cells and a lower density of mature DCs and activated CTLs in metastatic than in non-metastatic lymph nodes. These findings might indicate an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which could be involved in the spread of neoplastic cells to cervical lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréia Souza
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Nádia Lago
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Diego Antônio Costa
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Cássia Gonçalves Alencar
authors.forename: Tarcília Aparecida
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Aline Carvalho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Batista
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult; D000097802:CD83 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D000097802:CD83 Antigen; C419393:CD1a antigen; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; C510468:PRF1 protein, human
keywords: cytotoxic T lymphocytes; dendritic cells; lymph nodes; regulatory T cells; squamous cell carcinoma