title: Granuloma cells in chronic inflammation express CD205 (DEC205) antigen and harbor proliferating T lymphocytes: similarity to antigen-presenting cells.
abstract: Granulomas are classified as immune or foreign body granulomas. Of these, the immune granulomas, a hallmark of granulomatous inflammation, are closely related to cell-mediated immune responses. The aim of the present study is to characterize immune granuloma cells in 33 patients with granulomatous inflammation focusing on the expression of CD205 (DEC205), a cell surface marker of antigen presenting cells, and their spatial relationship to T cells. CD205 was frequently expressed by immune granuloma cells, in contrast to foreign body granuloma cells that lacked CD205 expression. T cells were not only distributed in a lymphocyte collar around the granuloma, but also present among the granuloma cells (termed 'intra-granuloma T cells'). Intra-granuloma T cells stained positive for Ki-67 (median positivity = 9.4%) by double immunostaining for CD3 and Ki-67. This indicated the presence of proliferative stimuli within the granuloma that could activate the intra-granuloma T cells. The labeling index of Ki-67 in intra-granuloma T cells was significantly higher than that of T cells in the lymphocyte collar (P < 0.0001) or T cells in the T cell zone (paracortex) of chronic tonsillitis or reactive lymphadenitis (P = 0.002). These data indicate a close similarity between immune granulomas and antigen presenting cells.
authors: Department of Pathology, Mito Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Ibaraki, Japan. hohtani@mito.hosp.go.jp
authors: Haruo
authors: H
authors: Ohtani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006099:Granuloma / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C093569:DEC-205 receptor; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface