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Updated: Sep 5, 2026
Lymphocyte Isolation from Human Skin for Phenotypic Analysis and Ex Vivo Cell Culture
Published on: April 8, 2016
Large molecular systems landscape uncovers T cell trapping in human skin cancer
Reyk Hillert1, Anne Gieseler1,2, Andreas Krusche1
1Molecular Pattern Recognition Research Group, Medical Faculty, OvG University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Immune surveillance of tumour cells is an important function of CD8 T lymphocytes, which has failed in cancer for reasons still unknown in many respect but mainly related to cellular processes in the tumour microenvironment. Applying imaging cycler microscopy to analyse the immune contexture in a human skin cancer we could identify and map 7,000 distinct cell surface-associated multi-protein assemblies. The resulting combinatorial geometry-based high-functional resolution led to discovery of a mechanism of T cell trapping in the epidermis, which involves SPIKE, a network of suprabasal keratinocyte projections piercing and interconnecting CD8 T cells. It appears initiated by clusters of infrabasal T and dendritic cells connected via cell projections across a fractured basal lamina to suprabasal keratinocytes and T lymphocytes.
Insights
Researchers discovered a novel mechanism called SPIKE where skin cancer traps CD8 T cells. This involves keratinocyte projections interconnecting T cells, hindering immune surveillance against tumors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- CD8 T lymphocytes are crucial for immune surveillance of tumors.
- Tumor immune evasion is a significant challenge in cancer treatment.
- The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in immune suppression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immune contexture in human skin cancer.
- To identify mechanisms of immune evasion within the tumor microenvironment.
- To understand how CD8 T cells fail in cancer surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized imaging cycler microscopy to analyze immune cells in skin cancer.
- Mapped over 7,000 distinct cell surface-associated multi-protein assemblies.
- Employed combinatorial geometry-based analysis for high-functional resolution.
Main Results:
- Discovered a novel mechanism of T cell trapping in the epidermis, termed SPIKE.
- SPIKE involves suprabasal keratinocyte projections interconnecting CD8 T cells.
- Identified initiation involving infrabasal T and dendritic cells connecting to suprabasal keratinocytes and T lymphocytes across a fractured basal lamina.
Conclusions:
- SPIKE represents a previously unknown mechanism of immune evasion in skin cancer.
- This mechanism physically traps CD8 T cells, impairing anti-tumor immune surveillance.
- Understanding SPIKE may offer new therapeutic targets for enhancing cancer immunity.
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