title: Phenotypic characterisation of immune cell infiltrates in testicular germ cell neoplasia.
abstract: Immune cells often infiltrate testicular germ cell neoplasms, including pre-invasive carcinoma in situ (CIS), but the significance of this phenomenon remains unknown. The composition and distribution of infiltrating immune cells were examined by immunohistochemistry in testis samples with CIS and overt seminoma, in comparison to biopsies from infertile men without neoplasia. The composition of immune cells was similar across all the groups studied. Macrophages, CD8⁺ and CD45R0⁺ T lymphocytes constituted the majority of infiltrates, B lymphocytes were present in an intermediate proportion and very few CD4⁺ and FoxP3⁺ T cells were detected. HLA-I antigen was more abundant in Sertoli cells in tubules containing CIS than in those with normal spermatogenesis. This study showed a phenotypically comparable composition of infiltrating immune cells independently of the presence of neoplasia, suggesting the absence of active immune surveillance in testicular germ cell cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Section 5064, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hvarness
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Almstrup
authors.forename: Niels E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Skakkebaek
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rajpert-De Meyts
authors.forename: Mogens H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Claesson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018239:Seminoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006680:HLA Antigens; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens
keywords: Carcinoma in situ; Germ cell tumour; Immune cell infiltration; Immune privilege; Immune surveillance; Testis