Cytokine production by human soft tissue sarcomas: implications for immunosuppression within the tumour bed

• Published in: Surgical oncology 1996-10, Vol.5 (5), p.237-244
• Main Authors: Spellman, J.E., Gollnick, S.O., Zhang, P.J., Tomasi, T.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Culture Techniques; cytokine; Cytokines - analysis; Cytokines - biosynthesis; human; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunohistochemistry; immunosuppression; Interferon-gamma - analysis; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin-10 - analysis; Interleukin-10 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-2 - analysis; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; production; Reference Values; sarcoma; Sarcoma - immunology; Transforming Growth Factor beta - analysis; Transforming Growth Factor beta - biosynthesis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0960-7404; 1879-3320
• DOI: 10.1016/S0960-7404(96)80027-2

The local immune response to the presence of tumour is affected by the pattern of cytokine production within the tumour bed. The purpose of this study was to define the pattern of cytokine production in human soft tissue sarcomas, attempting to identify potential immune suppression. Total RNA was extracted from six human soft tissue sarcomas from which cDNA was generated. PCR was carried out in the presence of primer pairs for G3PDH, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TIMF-α, INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-10. TGF-β1 and IL-10 mRIMA was detected in all tumours, however, mRNA for IL-2 and INF-γ was detected in only two out of six sarcomas. Paraffin sections were incubated with α-hu-TGF-/β1 or α-hu-IL-10 antibodies to localize protein production. TGF-β1 and IL-10 protein expression was only associated with the tumour cells. These findings suggest potential local immune suppression within the tumour bed.