Phenotypic characterisation of immune cell infiltrates in testicular germ cell neoplasia

TY - JOUR

T1 - Phenotypic characterisation of immune cell infiltrates in testicular germ cell neoplasia

AU - Hvarness, Tine

AU - Nielsen, John E

AU - Almstrup, Kristian

AU - Skakkebaek, Niels E

AU - Rajpert-De Meyts, Ewa

AU - Claesson, Mogens H

N1 - Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2013/12

Y1 - 2013/12

N2 - Immune cells often infiltrate testicular germ cell neoplasms, including pre-invasive carcinoma in situ (CIS), but the significance of this phenomenon remains unknown. The composition and distribution of infiltrating immune cells were examined by immunohistochemistry in testis samples with CIS and overt seminoma, in comparison to biopsies from infertile men without neoplasia. The composition of immune cells was similar across all the groups studied. Macrophages, CD8(+) and CD45R0(+) T lymphocytes constituted the majority of infiltrates, B lymphocytes were present in an intermediate proportion and very few CD4(+) and FoxP3(+) T cells were detected. HLA-I antigen was more abundant in Sertoli cells in tubules containing CIS than in those with normal spermatogenesis. This study showed a phenotypically comparable composition of infiltrating immune cells independently of the presence of neoplasia, suggesting the absence of active immune surveillance in testicular germ cell cancer.

AB - Immune cells often infiltrate testicular germ cell neoplasms, including pre-invasive carcinoma in situ (CIS), but the significance of this phenomenon remains unknown. The composition and distribution of infiltrating immune cells were examined by immunohistochemistry in testis samples with CIS and overt seminoma, in comparison to biopsies from infertile men without neoplasia. The composition of immune cells was similar across all the groups studied. Macrophages, CD8(+) and CD45R0(+) T lymphocytes constituted the majority of infiltrates, B lymphocytes were present in an intermediate proportion and very few CD4(+) and FoxP3(+) T cells were detected. HLA-I antigen was more abundant in Sertoli cells in tubules containing CIS than in those with normal spermatogenesis. This study showed a phenotypically comparable composition of infiltrating immune cells independently of the presence of neoplasia, suggesting the absence of active immune surveillance in testicular germ cell cancer.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jri.2013.10.005

DO - 10.1016/j.jri.2013.10.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24290033

SN - 0165-0378

VL - 100

SP - 135

EP - 145

JO - Journal of Reproductive Immunology

JF - Journal of Reproductive Immunology

IS - 2

ER -