Altered CD3 chain and cytokine gene expression in tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes during the development of mesothelioma

Abstract

The mechanisms whereby tumors escape immunosurveillance remain poorly understood. De-activation or deviation of T lymphocyte responses may occur following exposure to tumor-associated or -derived signals. In the present study it is demonstrated that during development of syngeneic malignant mesothelioma in mice, the relative CD3δ, CD3y and CD3ξ/η mRNA levels expressed by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) decrease, while CD3ε mRNA levels remain relatively constant, Expression of IFNy mRNA by TIL decreased during tumor development, while IL-2 mRNA levels showed slight increases. IL-3 mRNA was not detected at any time during tumor development and IL-4 transcripts were only detected in the la..