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Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in salivary gland neoplasms is unrelated to the expression of mRNA for natural killer cell stimulatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-12

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Abstract

Certain cytokines are involved in the generation of natural killer (NK) cells and participate in the regulation of the proto-oncogene bcl-2. We aimed to study the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL) -2, IL-4 and IL-5, the composition of the tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), and the expression of bcl-2 in 14 benign and malignant human parotid tumours. T IL were predominantly composed of T lymphocytes and NK cells. We found evidence for the homing of T cells, and for generation of NK cells in the vicinity of the tumours. mRNA for IL-2 and IL-12, were identified but IL-4 mRNA was not found. The cytokine profiles and the composition of TIL of the two tumour categories were indistinguishable, suggesting that these host-response variables do not explain the differences in biological behaviour of these particular tumours. The results support a shift towards Th1 (T helper 1) cells and interferon-γ production, and that IL-12 also in vivo may play an important role in the regulatory interaction between innate resistance and adaptive immunity in tumour diseases. Most infiltrating lymphocytes showed strong expression of bcl-2; an interesting observation with regard to lymphocytic apoptosis in neoplastic diseases. The immunoreactivity fot the bcl-2 protein varied considerably between and within tumours, and almost all benign tumours showed strong bcl-2 positively whereas several of the malignant tumours showed weak or absent staining. The variable expression of bcl-2 protein suggests a different susceptibility of tumour cells to apoptosis. The results also indicate that bcl-2 cannot play a major role as protective agent in the specific apoptotic pathway induced by NK cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology II, University Hospital, S-58185, Linköping, Sweden

    H. B. Hellquist

  2. Department of Pathology, Medical Center Hospital, Örebro, Sweden

    M. G. Karlsson & C. Karlsson

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, European Institute of Oncology, University of Milan School of Medicine, Milan, Italy

    G. Viale & P. Dell'Orto

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Center Hospital, Örebro, Schweden

    Å Davidsson

  5. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    J. Olofsson

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  1. H. B. Hellquist
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Hellquist, H.B., Karlsson, M.G., Karlsson, C. et al. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in salivary gland neoplasms is unrelated to the expression of mRNA for natural killer cell stimulatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-12. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 429, 149–158 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192437

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192437

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