Abstract
Interaction between tumour survival tactics and antitumour immune response is a major determinant for cancer growth. Regulatory T cells (T-regs) contribute to tumour immune escape, but their role in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is not understood. The fraction of T-regs among T cells was analysed by immunohistochemistry followed by automated image analysis in facial BCC, peritumoural skin and normal, buttock skin. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed for FOXP3 and cytokines involved in T-reg attraction and T-cell activation. T-regs comprised 45% of CD4-cells surrounding BCC. FOXP3 was highly expressed in BCC, but absent in buttock skin. Unexpectedly, expression of FOXP3 was increased in peritumoural skin, with the FOXP3/CD3 fractions exceeding those of BCC (p = 0.0065). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and T-reg chemokine expression was increased in BCC and peritumoural skin, but not in buttock skin, with expression levels correlating with FOXP3. T-regs are abundantly present both in BCC and in peritumoural skin, mediating an immunosuppressed microenvironment permissive for skin cancer.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Acta Dermatovenereologica |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Pages (from-to) | 917-921 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 0001-5555 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Nov 2016 |
Keywords
- Biopsy
- Carcinoma, Basal Cell
- Cytokines
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Skin Neoplasms
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
- Journal Article
