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MATILDE TODARO

Characterization of human γδ T lymphocytes infiltrating primary malignant melanomas

  • Autori: Cordova, A; Toia, F; La Mendola, C; Orlando, V; Meraviglia, S; Rinaldi, G; Todaro, M; Cicero, G; Zichichi, L; Li Donni, P; Caccamo, N; Stassi, G; Dieli, F; Moschella, F
  • Anno di pubblicazione: 2012
  • Tipologia: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
  • OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/74545

Abstract

T lymphocytes are often induced naturally in melanoma patients and infiltrate tumors. Given that gamma delta T cells mediate antigen-specific killing of tumor cells, we studied the representation and the in vitro cytokine production and cytotoxic activity of tumor infiltrating gamma delta T cells from 74 patients with primary melanoma. We found that gamma delta T cells represent the major lymphocyte population infiltrating melanoma, and both V delta 1(+) and V delta 2(+) cells are involved. The majority of melanoma-infiltrating gamma delta cells showed effector memory and terminally-differentiated phenotypes and, accordingly, polyclonal gamma delta T cell lines obtained from tumor-infiltrating immune cells produced IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and were capable of killing melanoma cell lines in vitro. The cytotoxic capability of V delta 2 cell lines was further improved by pre-treatment of tumor target cells with zoledronate. Moreover, higher rate of gamma delta T cells isolation and percentages of V delta 2 cells correlate with early stage of development of melanoma and absence of metastasis. Altogether, our results suggest that a natural immune response mediated by gamma delta T lymphocytes may contribute to the immunosurveillance of melanoma.