Phenotypic Differences of CD103+ Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells Associated with Various Cancers.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

The presence and clinical importance of tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells have been recently described in association with various cancer types. However, the frequency and the traditional naïve-effector-memory phenotypic characteristics of TRM cells are largely unknown.

METHODS:

We analyzed single-cell populations of colorectal cancer (CC, n = 18), stomach cancer (SC, n = 13), renal cell carcinoma (RCC, n = 19), and breast cancer (BC, n = 16) by dissociation of tumor tissue with collagenase/hyaluronidase. We investigated populations of naïve, effector, and memory T and TRM cells by flow cytometry.

RESULTS:

Among CD8- cells, CC was associated with a significantly higher proportion of CD103+ T cells than other tumor types (p < 0.001). Among CD8+ cells, CC and SC were associated with higher CD103+ T-cell proportions than RCC and BC (p < 0.001). Significantly more CD8+ than CD8- cells expressed CD103 (p < 0.001). In association with SC, RCC, and BC, CD8+ T cells had a similar T-cell phenotype composition pattern: fewer effector T cells and more memory-type T cells among CD103+ cells compared with CD103- cells (p < 0.05). Tumors with higher proportion of CD103+ cells had no specific clinicopathologic characteristics than those with lower proportion of CD103+ cells.

CONCLUSION:

TRM cell abundance and phenotypes varied among CC, SC, RCC, and BC. Further studies regarding the functional differences of TRM associated with various tumors are warranted.

• Authors: Hye Seon Park, Yeonjin Jeon, Hyun Lee, Heejae Lee, Young-Ae Kim, In Ah Park, Won Seon Bang, Miseon Lee, Young Jin Cho, Jihyeong Kim, Gyungyub Gong, Hee Jin Lee
• Journal: Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology (Pathobiology) Vol. 89 Issue 2 Pg. 116-126 ( 2022) ISSN: 1423-0291 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34592745 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Topics

• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• Humans
• Immunologic Memory
• Memory T Cells
• Neoplasms (pathology)
• Phenotype