a-simple-rapid-protocol-to-non-enzymatically-dissociate-fresh-human

A Simple and Rapid Protocol to Non-enzymatically Dissociate Fresh Human Tissues for the Analysis of Infiltrating Lymphocytes

The ability of malignant cells to evade the immune system, characterized by tumor escape from both innate and adaptive immune responses, is now accepted ...

Université Libre de Bruxelles

CD4⁺ T cells are critical regulators of immune responses, but their functional role in human breast cancer is relatively unknown. The goal of this study was to produce an image of CD4⁺ T cells infiltrating breast tumors using limited ex vivo manipulation to better understand the in vivo differences associated with patient prognosis. We performed comprehensive molecular profiling of infiltrating CD4⁺ T cells isolated from untreated invasive primary tumors and found that the infiltrating T cell subpopulations included follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, which have not previously been found in solid tumors, as well as Th1, Th2, and Th17 effector memory cells and Tregs. T cell signaling pathway alterations included a mixture of activation and suppression characterized by restricted cytokine/chemokine production, which inversely paralleled lymphoid infiltration levels and could be reproduced in activated donor CD4⁺ T cells treated with primary tumor supernatant. A comparison of extensively versus minimally infiltrated tumors showed that CXCL13-producing CD4⁺ Tfh cells distinguish extensive immune infiltrates, principally located in tertiary lymphoid structure germinal centers. An 8-gene Tfh signature, signifying organized antitumor immunity, robustly predicted survival or preoperative response to chemotherapy. Our identification of CD4⁺ Tfh cells in breast cancer suggests that they are an important immune element whose presence in the tumor is a prognostic factor.

CD4⁺ follicular helper T cell infiltration predicts breast cancer survival.

By analyzing CD4(+) lymphocytes in human breast carcinomas, we have recently uncovered the presence of follicular helper T cells in lesions exhibiting an extensive immune infiltrate. The presence of these specialized CD4(+) T cells, which localize to the germinal centers of peritumoral tertiary lymphoid structures found in extensively infiltrated neoplastic lesions, predicts improved disease outcome among breast carcinoma patients.

Article	Year
CD4⁺ follicular helper T cell infiltration predicts breast cancer survival. The Journal of clinical investigation\| PubMed ID: 23778140	2013
Tumor-infiltrating follicular helper T cells: The new kids on the block. Oncoimmunology\| PubMed ID: 24244900	2013

Chunyan Gu-Trantien

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