Expansion of the CD8 + CD45RA + CD27 - CD28 - T-Cell Subset in Patients with HPV-Associated Cervical Cancer and its Precursors - Anstieg der CD8 + CD45RA + CD27 - CD 28 - T-Zell-Subpopulation bei Patientinnen mit HPV-assoziiertem Zervixkarzinom und seinen Vorstufen -

Abstract

Objective: More than 90% of cervical cancers and precursors are caused by infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Cellular immune responses associated with HPV may be detectable in peripheral blood. The purpose of the present study was to assess the immune status in patients with HPV-infection and to identify T cell subsets which may serve as a surrogate marker for immune activation induced bei HPV. Methods: Subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes in women (n = 30) without signs of HPV-infection were compared with those of patients with histologically verified HPV-associated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (n = 22) or invasive cervical carcinomas (n = 16) using four-color flow cytometric analysis. Results: One of the major changes in the T cell repertoire was a significant expansion of T cells characterized by the CD8+ CD45RA+ CD27- CD28- immune phenotype in patients with HPV associated CIN and cancer compared with the control group (p < 0.01 and 0.0001, respectively). This immune phenotype also differed significantly (p < 0.04) between patients with CIN and CC. Conclusion: The significant T cell response in patients with HPV associated CIN and cancer suggests a proliferative expansion of HPV-antigen-experienced cytotoxic T cells. Further studies are necessary to determine the viral specificity and the validity of lymphocyte subset analysis for monitoring immune function in patients with HPV-associated neoplasia.