A prognostic value of CD45RA+, CD45RO+, CCL20+ and CCR6+ expressing cells as 'immunoscore' to predict cervical cancer induced by HPV

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 22;11(1):8782. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88248-x.

Abstract

The interplay between cervical cancer (CC) and immune cells, mainly intratumoral lymphocytes, has a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. In this context, we evaluated the distribution of CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ cells as well as CCR6+ and CCL20+ cells in intraepithelial (IE) and marginal stroma (MS) areas from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I-III, and CC as 'immunoscore' for HPV-induced CC outcome. We observed increased CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ cells distribution in IE and MS areas in the CC group compared to CIN groups and healthy volunteers. Interestingly, there is a remarkable reduction of CCL20+ expressing cells distribution according to lesion severity. The CC group had a significant decrease in CCL20+ and CCR6+-expressing cells distribution in both IE and MS areas compared to all groups. Using the 'immunoscore' model, we observed an increased number of women presenting high CD45RA+/CD45RO+ and low CCL20+/CCR6+ 'immunoscore' in the CC group. Our results suggested a pattern in cervical inflammatory process with increasing CD45RA+/CD45RO+, and decreasing CCL20+/CCR6+ expression in accordance with CIN severity. Taken together, these markers could be evaluated as 'immunoscore' predictors to CC response. A more comprehensive analysis of longitudinal studies should be conducted to associate CD45RA+/CD45RO+ and CCL20+/CCR6+ 'immunoscore' to CC progression and validate its value as a prognosis method.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alphapapillomavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chemokine CCL20
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / immunology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, CCR6
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology

Substances

  • CCL20 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL20
  • Receptors, CCR6
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens