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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
The Use of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays (RPPA) to Explore Protein Expression Variation within Individual Renal Cell Cancers
Published on: January 22, 2013
Expression pattern of HLA class I antigens in renal cell carcinoma and primary cell line cultures: methodological
Libor Hanak1, Ondrej Slaby, Ludmila Lauerova
1University Cell Immunotherapy Center, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
Background:
Renal cell carcinomas have developed various strategies to escape immune cell recognition, including down-regulation or loss of classic HLA class I antigens (A, B, C) and aberrant expression of non-classic HLA class I antigens (G, E). In this study both classic and non-classic HLA class I antigens were tested in tumor specimens and established primary cell cultures derived from renal cell carcinoma patients.
Material/Methods:
HLA class I antigens were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and the intensity of cytoplasmic staining was measured semiquantitatively. Renal tumor tissue obtained from nephrectomy was used for the explant culture. MTT assay was performed to test the chemoresistance of primary cell line cultures to common cytostatics.
Results:
HLA-G and HLA-E were found in 62% and 100% of the analyzed tumor samples, respectively. Markedly higher levels of the non-classic HLA-G and -E antigens compared with the classic HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens were observed. The cells of the control renal tissues were HLA-A, -B, -C, and -E positive and HLA-G negative. Cell line cultures were successfully established in 85% of the renal cell carcinoma specimens. No or minimal changes in classic HLA-A, B, and C antigen staining were observed during cultivation of the primary cell line cultures. No correlation between HLA class I antigen expression and chemoresistance, histopathological stage, or nuclear grade was found.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that primary cell line cultures derived from surgical specimens of renal cell carcinomas are a feasible model for immunotherapy research through their high cultivation potential.
Insights
Renal cell carcinomas evade immune detection by altering HLA class I antigen expression. Primary cell cultures from these tumors show high cultivation potential, making them suitable for immunotherapy research.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) employs immune evasion strategies, including down-regulation of classic Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I (A, B, C) and aberrant expression of non-classic HLA class I (G, E).
- Understanding HLA class I antigen expression in RCC is crucial for developing effective immunotherapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of both classic and non-classic HLA class I antigens in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumor specimens and primary cell cultures.
- To assess the feasibility of using primary RCC cell line cultures for immunotherapy research.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate HLA class I antigen expression, with cytoplasmic staining intensity measured semiquantitatively.
- Primary cell line cultures were established from nephrectomy-obtained renal tumor tissue.
- MTT assay was employed to determine chemoresistance of primary cell line cultures.
Main Results:
- Non-classic HLA-G and HLA-E antigens were found in 62% and 100% of RCC samples, respectively, with markedly higher levels than classic HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens.
- Control renal tissues expressed classic HLA-A, -B, -C, and -E but lacked HLA-G.
- Primary RCC cell line cultures were successfully established in 85% of specimens, maintaining stable classic HLA class I antigen expression during cultivation.
- No correlation was found between HLA class I antigen expression and chemoresistance, histopathological stage, or nuclear grade.
Conclusions:
- Primary cell line cultures derived from surgical RCC specimens demonstrate high cultivation potential.
- These cell line cultures represent a feasible and valuable model for advancing immunotherapy research in renal cell carcinoma.
