Lymphocyte subpopulations of regional lymph nodes in human colon and gastric adenocarcinomas

In order to study the host immune response to tumours, previous knowledge of the cellular composition of regional draining lymph nodes is necessary. Enlarged regional lymph nodes are a common finding in colon and gastric adenocarcinomas. We have studied the cellular composition of normal non-reactive and of regional draining lymph nodes of colon and gastric adenocarcinomas. In normal non-reactive lymph nodes, T lymphocytes (CD2+, CD7+) constituted the largest fraction of the lymphoreticular cells. These lymphocytes were mainly CD4+, and there were more cells expressing the CD45RA isoform of the CD45 antigen than CD45RO. Reactive lymph nodes presented a decreased proportion of CD4+ CD45RA+ cells and an increased number of B cells. Although most of the T cells in the reactive nodes were CD4+ CD45RO+, their proportion was similar to that found in normal non-reactive nodes. We studied the presence of the molecules CD28 and CD80 involved in the processes of interaction and activation of T and B lymphocytes. The CD28 molecule was found in all the T lymphocytes, while the CD80 molecule was weakly expressed on the B lymphocyte membrane.