[A study of the expression of class II antigen on uterine cervical cancer cells and cell lines]

An immunohistochemical method with monoclonal antibody to DR antigen was used to study class II antigens and HLA-DR antigen in 20 patients with uterine cervical cancer. Eight patients had various amounts of DR antigen. Regional infiltrating lymphocytes were also examined with anti-Leu 1, Leu 2a, Leu 3a, and Leu 10. Among the many infiltrating T cells, Leu 3a-positive cells were relatively predominant surrounding the cancer nests which contained DR antigen. Cervical cancer cell lines OMC-1 and OMC-4 both demonstrated DR antigen. Interferon (IFN)-gamma treatment enhanced the expression of DR antigen in OMC-1 and OMC-4. The DR antigen in OMC-1 and OMC-4 were capable of stimulating allogenic lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), and their stimulatory activity was significantly enhanced by IFN-gamma treatment. These results demonstrated the expression of class II antigen, especially DR, on some cervical cancer cells and cell lines and showed that the DR antigen in uterine cancer cell lines can stimulate MLR.