Differentiation status of primary immune cells in different tissues from patients with HNSCC

Introduction:

The treatment of patients suffering from head and neck-squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with different immunmodulatory agents offers new therapeutics perspectives. Depending on the derived tissue immune cells display different morphologies, as well differentiation and activation statuses. Systemic targeting of such cells by immunmodulators requires a better understanding of their physiological roles. To this end we studied the morphology and activation state of primary T cells and antigen presenting cells derived from blood, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph node metastasis, mucosal tissue, tumors, and the peripheral region of tumors in HNSCC patients.

Methods:

Primary immune cells were isolated from different areas of excised tumor tissues and analyzed via flow-cytometry. The frequency and activation state of immune cells within different areas was analyzed for the expression of different co-stimulatory receptors and surface activation markers. Depending on the analyzed tissue specimen from 9 – 17 patients were included.

Results:

The composition and activation state of antigen presenting cells differ in blood and secondary lymphoid tissue. Furthermore, T cells in distant mucosal tissue and in peripheral as well as central tumor sites show different morphology. The different morphologies include co-stimulatory receptors which may serve as target structure for immunomodulatory therapies.

Discussion:

Tissue resident immune cells may show specific traits regarding their morphology and potential function. Effective targeting of such cells by immunmodulators in the context of HNSCC might be a powerful tool; however, systematic analyses of physiological differences are of fundamental need to identify appropriate targeting strategies.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)