T-LYMPHOCYTES INFILTRATING THE BLADDER WALL OF PATIENTS WITH CARCINOMA OF URINARY-BLADDER ARE IN-VIVO ACTIVATED

Objectives: This paper studies the phenotypical characteristics of the lymphocytes present in mononuclear cell (MNC) preparations from perip heral blood (PBMNC), lymph nodes (LNMNC), tumor bladder (TBMNC), and t umor-free bladder (TFBMNC) from patients with infiltrated transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder and PBMNC of healthy controls. Me thods: Eight patients diagnosed with TCC of the bladder, according to UICC criteria, and 10 healthy controls were studied. For immunofluores cence staining, T lymphocytes were incubated with combinations of fluo rescein (FITC, green)- and phycoerytrin (PE, red)-labelled monoclonal antibodies. Results: The percentage of NK cells in the LNMNC and TFBMN C was significantly decreased in comparison to that found in the PBMNC from these patients (p < 0.05). A significant enhancement of the expr ession of class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex ( MHC) by CD3+ T lymphocytes from TBMNC and TFBMNC specimens from bladde r walls was found with respect to those quantified in CD3+ T lymphocyt es from PBMNC (p < 0.05). In addition, the percentage of CD3+CD25+ T l ymphocytes was significantly higher in PBMNC in TCC patients than in h ealthy controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our data clearly demonstrate that the presence of infiltrative TCC of the bladder is associated to an infiltration of in vivo activated T lymphocytes of the urinary blad der wall. This in vivo T lymphocyte activation has been considered an expression of the immune response against the tumor cells.