Luo Liping, Ji Juan, Dong Juan, He Maotao, Jiang Wenjun, Liu Yang, Wang Weidong
Basic Research Center, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Pathology Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
BMC Cancer. 2025 Jan 30;25(1):179. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-13581-7.
CD3 + CD20 + T cells (T cells) are a subset of lymphocytes in the human body that are associated with inflammation. They originate from T cells interacting with B cells, and their levels are abnormally elevated in individuals with immune disorders, as well as in some cancer patients. The interplay between tumor immunity and inflammation is intricate, yet the specific involvement of T cells in local tumor immunity remains uncertain, with limited research on their subtypes.
Lung cancer surgical samples were stained using multi-color immunofluorescence to study the subtypes and distribution patterns of T cells.
T cells were confirmed to exist in a scattered pattern within tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in lung cancer tissues, with higher abundance in mature TLS. In subtype analysis, the CD4-CD8- double-negative T cell subtype was predominant, comprising over 90% in samples with abundant TLS infiltration and over 60% in samples with poor infiltration. This was followed by the CD4 + CD8- and CD4-CD8 + single-positive T cell subtypes, while the CD4 + CD8 + double-positive T cell subtype was nearly absent. During the maturation of TLS, the proportion of B cells gradually increased, while the proportion of CD4-CD8- T cell subtype decreased.
T cells extensively infiltrate the TLS regions in tumor tissues, with the double-negative subtype being predominant, potentially playing a crucial regulatory role in the local tumor immune microenvironment. This finding could facilitate the advancement of novel cancer treatment strategies.
CD3+CD20+T细胞（双阳性T细胞）是人体淋巴细胞的一个亚群，与炎症相关。它们起源于与B细胞相互作用的T细胞，在免疫紊乱个体以及一些癌症患者中其水平异常升高。肿瘤免疫与炎症之间的相互作用错综复杂，但双阳性T细胞在局部肿瘤免疫中的具体作用仍不确定，对其亚型的研究也有限。
采用多色免疫荧光对肺癌手术样本进行染色，以研究双阳性T细胞的亚型和分布模式。
证实双阳性T细胞以散在模式存在于肺癌组织的三级淋巴结构（TLS）中，在成熟的TLS中丰度更高。在亚型分析中，CD4-CD8-双阴性T细胞亚型占主导，在TLS浸润丰富的样本中占比超过90%，在浸润较差的样本中占比超过60%。其次是CD4+CD8-和CD4-CD8+单阳性T细胞亚型，而CD4+CD8+双阳性T细胞亚型几乎不存在。在TLS成熟过程中，B细胞比例逐渐增加，而CD4-CD8- T细胞亚型比例下降。
双阳性T细胞广泛浸润肿瘤组织的TLS区域，双阴性亚型占主导，可能在局部肿瘤免疫微环境中发挥关键调节作用。这一发现可能有助于推进新型癌症治疗策略。
