Abstract
AIM: We studied the expression of TCR zeta-chain on tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in EBV-positive and EBV-negative cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD), to assess whether downregulation of TCR zeta-chain on tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes might be a mechanism for immune escape of the neoplastic cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS: By immunohistochemistry we investigated tissue of 27 cases of primary HD, both paraffin embedded and frozen, for the presence of T-cell receptor complex zeta-chain and other T-cell markers on the reactive cells. Strong membranous staining of TCR zeta-chain was present in all cases in frozen tissue. In contrast, in paraffin-embedded material substantial loss of TCR zeta-chain was detected in old (> 6 years) tissues. However, no differences in either the number of positive cells or their staining intensity were observed in EBV-positive and negative cases of HD as detected in frozen tissue. Storage of paraffin-embedded tissue leads to a rapid and substantial loss of TCR zeta-chain reactivity compared to frozen material of the same HD cases. Staining reactivity of other T-cell markers (CD3, CD4 and CD8) on paraffin-embedded material remained unaffected. Immunofluorescent double-staining confirmed colocalization and coexpression of TCR zeta-chain and CD3.
CONCLUSIONS: In frozen biopsies of primary HD TCR zeta-chain was expressed on all reactive CD3-positive cells, both in EBV-positive and EBV-negative cases. This suggests that zeta-chain downregulation is not a likely mechanism whereby neoplastic cells of HD can escape immune surveillance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 544-50 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Histopathology |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 6 |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2000 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- CD3 Complex
- CD4 Antigens
- CD8 Antigens
- Child
- Comparative Study
- Female
- Frozen Sections
- Hodgkin Disease
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Journal Article
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
- Male
- Membrane Proteins
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Paraffin Embedding
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
- Time Factors
- Tissue Preservation