Human squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck chemoattract immune suppressive CD34(+) progenitor cells

CD34(+) progenitor cells have previously been shown to be mobilized in pati ents with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). The present study showed that these CD34(+) cells inhibit the capacity of intratumoral lymphoid cells to become activated in response to stimulation through the TCR/CD3 complex, The mechanisms that could lead to the accumulation of CD34 (+) cells within the tumor tissue were assessed. This was accomplished thro ugh in vitro studies that determined if HNSCC produce soluble factors that chemoattract CD34(+) cells. The migration of cord blood CD34(+) cells, whic h were used as a readily available source of progenitor cells, was stimulat ed by products derived from HNSCC explants and primary HNSCC cultures. This stimulated migration was due to chemotaxis because it was dependent on an increasing gradient of HNSCC-derived products. CD34(+) cells that were isol ated from the peripheral blood of HNSCC patients were similarly chemoattrac ted to the HNSCC-derived products. The majority of the chemotactic activity produced by HNSCC could be attributed to vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). These studies indicate that HNSCC can chemoattract immune in hibitory CD34(+) progenitor cells through their production of VEGF. (C) Ame rican Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 2001. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.