HLA Class I Expressions on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Colorectal Cancer Patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression change of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at both mRNA and protein levels, and to evaluate its roles in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
In the present study, 50 patients with CRC, 35 patients with benign colorectal lesion and 42 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Expression levels of HLA class I mRNA and protein were determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry analysis, respectively.


RESULTS
The expression levels of HLA class I mRNA and proteins were not influenced by age and gender. The relative ratios of HLA class I mRNA were 0.99±0.27 in healthy controls, 0.76±0.19 in benign patients, and 0.48±0.21 in CRC patients. Mean fluorescence intensities of HLA class I were 145.58±38.14 in healthy controls, 102.05±35.98 in benign patients and 87.44±34.01 in CRC patients. HLA class I on PBMCs was significantly down-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels in patients with stage III and IV CRC. CRC patients with lymph node metastasis also showed a decreased HLA class I expression at protein level.


CONCLUSIONS
HLA class I expressions on PBMCs are associated with staging of CRC and lymph node metastasis. Monitoring the expression of HLA class I on PBMCs may provide useful information for diagnosis and metastasis judgement of CRC.
Department of Health Examination Center.
Zhi-Mian
ZM
Zhang
Xiao
X
Guan
Ying-Jie
YJ
Li
Ming-Chen
MC
Zhu
Xiao-Jing
XJ
Yang
Xiong
X
Zou
Colorectal cancer; Flow cytometry; HLA class I; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; RT-PCR