Article
Cutaneous SCC and oral SCC – dual immunosuppression via expression of FOXP3 in tumour cells and through recruitment of FOXP3+ regulatory T-cells
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Published: | March 21, 2014 |
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Introduction: Not only are regulatory T-cells (Tregs) an essential component of the immune system in maintaining immunologic self tolerance by suppressing expansion of immune cells, but they imply a role in tumour immunology, too.
Showing dramatic increasing incidences, cutaneous SCC and oral SCC a growing public health problem. We identified Tregs using their transcription factor FOXP3 in these tumours.
Material and methods: The expression of FOXP3 mRNA was examined in 21 primary cutaneous and oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 14 metastases, 10 probes of normal skin and appropriate cancer cell lines using quantitative real-time PCR. Expression of mature FOXP3 protein was determined using double-immunohistochemistry (ICH) for FOXP3 and a specific tumour marker.
Results: FOXP3 mRNA expression in SCC samples was significantly higher than in normal skin. Tregs were found in tumour surroundings as well as within tumour cell islands. However, some FOXP3+ cells had morphologic characteristics of SCC tumour cells.
Conclusion: As a result, tumours might recruit Tregs into their microenvironment in order to block normal immunosurveillance and destruction by the immune system. FOXP3 expression by tumour cells themselves might present a novel mechanism of tumour immune escape.