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Characterization of lymphocyte subpopulations in Warthin's tumor
K W Chin1, K R Billings, A Ishiyama
1Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA Medical Center, USA.
Insights
Warthin's tumors (WTs) show distinct lymphocyte compositions compared to peripheral blood. The tumor
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Head and Neck Pathology
Background:
- Warthin's tumors (WTs) are benign salivary gland neoplasms with a complex histological composition.
- The lymphoid infiltrate within WTs is a notable feature, but its specific characteristics and relationship to systemic immunity are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the lymphocyte subsets within Warthin's tumors.
- To compare the immune cell profile of WTs to peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from the same patients.
- To evaluate the potential influence of the tumor's epithelial component on the local lymphoid microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell suspensions from six Warthin's tumors.
- Monoclonal antibodies targeting lymphocyte-associated antigens identified T lymphocyte subsets, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells.
- Lymphocyte populations and ratios in WTs were compared to PBLs from the same individuals and to retrospective data from normal and reactive lymph nodes.
Main Results:
- WTs exhibited specific proportions of T cells (58%), B cells (39%), and NK cells (1.3%).
- Significant differences were observed in the percentages of B lymphocytes, T cytotoxic-suppressor lymphocytes, and NK cells between WTs and PBLs.
- Ratios of B to T lymphocytes and T helper to T cytotoxic-suppressor lymphocytes also differed significantly between WTs and PBLs.
Conclusions:
- Warthin's tumors possess a unique lymphocyte subset distribution distinct from peripheral blood.
- The observed differences suggest a localized immune response within the tumor microenvironment.
- The tumor's epithelial component does not appear to significantly alter the lymphoid component's distribution when compared to lymph node data.
Abstract:
Cell suspensions from six Warthin's tumors (WTs) were characterized with fluorescence-labeled cell cytometry. WT lymphocyte subsets were identified with monoclonal antibodies directed against lymphocyte-associated cell antigens including T lymphocyte subsets, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells. Results showed that T cell proportions were 58% and B cell proportions were 39%. The T cell helper:cytotoxic-suppressor ratio was 5.7:1 and the B to T cell ratio was 0.8:1. NK cells represented 1.3% of cells. When compared to peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in the same patients, statistically significant differences were noted between PBLs and WT lymphocytes in the percentage of B lymphocytes (P < .01), T cytotoxic-suppressor lymphocytes (P < .02), NK cells (P < .01), and in the ratios of B to T lymphocytes (P < .01) and T helper to T cytotoxic-suppressor lymphocytes (P < .03). Comparing these data to retrospective data on lymphocyte distribution in normal and reactive lymph nodes, the epithelial component does not appear to exert a local effect on the lymphoid component of WT.