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Gamma-delta T Cells in Bladder Cancer Draining Lymph Nodes
Ali Ariafar1, Zahra Mansourabadi2,3, Hojat Alipoor1
1Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Background:
Gamma-delta (γδ) T cells are a distinct subset of T cells with a receptor composed of γ and δ chains. Their ability to directly recognize stress-induced molecules and non-peptide antigens expressed by cancer cells, along with their capacity to produce cytokines and interact with other immune cells, makes them potentially significant contributors to immune-based treatments.
Objective:
To investigate the presence and frequency of Tγδ cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with bladder cancer (BC), and to assess their association with prognostic parameters.
Methods:
Forty-nine fresh tumor-draining lymph nodes from untreated patients with BC were minced to obtain single cells. The cells were surface-stained with anti-CD3, anti-TCRγδ, and anti-HLA-DR antibodies, then acquired on a four-color FACSCalibur flow cytometer, and analyzed by FlowJo software.
Results:
On average, 2.07% ± 1.99% of CD3+ lymphocytes in regional nodes of BC exhibited a γδ T phenotype. A considerable percentage of these cells (37.90% ± 24.42%) expressed HLA-DR. Statistical analysis revealed that while the frequency of γδ T cells showed no variation among patients with different prognoses, the HLA-DR+ subset was higher in T4 patients than in T2 patients (p=0.031). These cells also tended to be increased in stage III compared to stage II (p=0.077).
Conclusion:
The data collectively indicated an association of HLA-DR expressing γδ T cells with prognostic factors related to tumor progression (higher T-group and stage), suggesting their potential involvement in disease progression. However, future research, including longitudinal studies with larger cohorts, needs to validate these findings and elucidate the functional roles of γδ T cells in the immune response against BC.
Insights
Gamma-delta T cells expressing HLA-DR are more frequent in advanced bladder cancer stages, suggesting a role in disease progression. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand their function.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Gamma-delta (γδ) T cells are a unique T cell subset recognizing stress-induced molecules on cancer cells.
- Their cytokine production and immune cell interactions highlight potential in cancer immunotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of γδ T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes of bladder cancer patients.
- To assess the association between γδ T cells and bladder cancer prognostic factors.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell suspension from 49 lymph nodes of untreated bladder cancer patients.
- Flow cytometry using anti-CD3, anti-TCRγδ, and anti-HLA-DR antibodies.
- Analysis of γδ T cell frequency and HLA-DR expression.
Main Results:
- γδ T cells constituted 2.07% of CD3+ lymphocytes; 37.90% expressed HLA-DR.
- No significant variation in total γδ T cell frequency across prognoses.
- Higher HLA-DR+ γδ T cell frequency in T4 vs. T2 stages (p=0.031) and a trend in Stage III vs. II (p=0.077).
Conclusions:
- HLA-DR expressing γδ T cells correlate with bladder cancer progression markers (higher T-stage and stage).
- These findings suggest a potential role for HLA-DR+ γδ T cells in bladder cancer progression.
- Further longitudinal studies are required to validate these results and clarify the functional role of γδ T cells in bladder cancer immunity.
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