Selective infiltration of CCR5(+)CXCR3(+) T lymphocytes in human colorectal carcinoma

Int J Cancer. 2005 Oct 10;116(6):949-56. doi: 10.1002/ijc.21135.

Abstract

T cell infiltration in colorectal cancer is associated with a favorable prognosis, suggesting an occurrence of a certain degree of anti-tumor immunity. T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells are now known to selectively express CC-chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5)/CXC-chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) and CCR4, respectively. To clarify the mechanism of T cell infiltration, we examined in situ expression of these chemokine receptors and their respective chemokine ligands in 40 cases of human colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemistry showed a predominant accumulation of T cells expressing CCR5 and CXCR3 mainly along the invasive margin, whereas those expressing CCR4 were rare. Flow cytometric analysis showed that more than half of CD8(+) T cells and a fraction of CD4(+) cells isolated from fresh tumor tissues co-expressed CCR5 and CXCR3, and CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+) cells predominantly produced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) over interleukin-4 (IL-4) after in vitro stimulation. RANTES/CCL5, a ligand of CCR5, was localized within infiltrating CD8(+) T cells in a granular pattern, whereas IP-10/CXCL10, a ligand of CXCR3, was localized in cancer cells and macrophages along the invasive margin. These data were consistent with an active recruitment of T cells expressing CCR5 or CXCR3 into the invasive margin of colorectal cancer. With the previous clinicopathological studies showing a favorable prognostic impact of T cell infiltration in colorectal cancer, our study supports the occurrence of a certain level of Th1-shifted cellular immune responses in human colorectal cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics*
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • CXCR3 protein, human
  • Chemokines
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine