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Published on: October 31, 2013
HLA-DR antigen expression and lymphocyte subsets in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. An
E Ioachim-Velogianni1, N E Stavropoulos, E Kitsiou
1Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, Medical School, Greece.
Insights
In bladder cancer, HLA-DR antigen expression on tumor cells is independent of immune cell populations like T cells (CD4, CD8) and macrophages. This suggests distinct tumor cell clones may drive HLA-DR expression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Immune cell infiltration and HLA-DR expression are critical in tumor microenvironments.
- Understanding the interplay between lymphocytes, macrophages, and HLA-DR in bladder cancer is crucial for therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between lymphocyte subpopulations (B cells, CD4+, CD8+ T cells), monocytes/macrophages, and HLA-DR antigen expression in bladder cancer specimens.
- To determine if HLA-DR expression correlates with specific immune cell densities or clinicopathological parameters.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of 38 bladder cancer specimens.
- Quantification of B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, monocytes/macrophages (Leu M5), and HLA-DR antigen expression.
- Correlation analysis with clinicopathological features.
Main Results:
- T cells predominated over B cells; CD4+ T cells were more abundant in the stroma, while CD8+ T cells were more prevalent in tumor cells.
- Aberrant HLA-DR expression was observed in 21.05% of tumors.
- No significant correlation was found between HLA-DR expression and the density of CD4+, CD8+ T cells, or macrophages.
- HLA-DR expression and immune cell populations were independent of clinicopathological parameters.
Conclusions:
- HLA-DR antigen expression in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is independent of lymphocyte subpopulations and macrophages.
- The findings suggest that HLA-DR expression may arise from distinct HLA-DR-positive or HLA-DR-negative tumor cell clones.
Abstract:
Lymphocyte subpopulations (B cells, CD4, CD8), interleukin-20 receptors (IL-2), monocytes/macrophages (Leu M5), and HLA-DR antigen expression were studied immunohistochemically on frozen sections from 38 bladder cancer specimens. T cells predominated over B cells in all tumours. CD4-positive lymphocytes predominated over CD8 in the stroma (CD4/CD8: 1.35/l), while in epithelial tumour cells CD8 was the prominent subpopulation (CD8/CD4: 1.75/l). Aberrant HLA-DR expression was found in 21.05 per cent of bladder tumours. A strong correlation between CD4 and CD8 population densities and macrophages with the other subpopulations was noticed. In HLA-DR-positive tumours, there was no correlation of the percentage of positive cells with CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocyte populations. Various parameters including IL-2 receptors, B cells, CD8- and CD4-positive cells, and macrophages did not differ significantly between the groups of tumours expressing and not expressing HLA-DR antigen. There were no statistically significant differences in the population densities of B cells, CD8- or CD4-positive cells, IL-2 receptor, monocytes/macrophages, and HLA-DR antigen expression among various clinicopathological parameters, including growth pattern, histological grade and clinical stage or patient's age and sex. These findings suggest that in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, HLA-DR antigen expression is independent of lymphocyte subpopulations. It is therefore possible that HLA-DR expression by tumour cells reflect the existence of separate HLA-DR-positive or HLA-DR-negative tumour clones.
