scholarly journals Accumulation of meningeal lymphocytes, but not myeloid cells, correlates with subpial cortical demyelination and white matter lesion activity in progressive MS patients

Author(s):  
Shanzeh M Ahmed ◽  
Nina Fransen ◽  
Hanane Touil ◽  
Iliana Michailidou ◽  
Inge Huitinga ◽  
...  

Subpial cortical demyelination is an important component of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology contributing to disease progression, yet mechanism(s) underlying its development remain unclear. Compartmentalized inflammation involving the meninges may drive this type of injury. Given recent findings identifying substantial white matter (WM) lesion activity in patients with progressive MS, elucidating whether and how WM lesional activity relates to meningeal inflammation and subpial cortical injury is of interest. Using post-mortem formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks (range, 5-72 blocks; median, 30 blocks) for each of 27 progressive MS patients, we assessed the relationship between meningeal inflammation, the extent of subpial cortical demyelination, and the state of subcortical WM lesional activity. Meningeal accumulations of T cells and B cells, but not myeloid cells, were spatially adjacent to subpial cortical lesions and greater immune-cell accumulation was associated with higher subpial lesion numbers. Patients with a higher extent of meningeal inflammation harboured a greater proportion of active and mixed (active-inactive) WM lesions, and an overall lower proportion of inactive and remyelinated WM lesions. Our findings support the involvement of meningeal lymphocytes in subpial cortical injury, and also point to a potential link between inflammatory subpial cortical demyelination and pathological mechanisms occurring in the subcortical white matter.

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Álvarez ◽  
Ester Blasco ◽  
Martí Pumarola ◽  
Annette Wessmann

Abstract Background Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is in growing recognition as potential marker for cancer progression, differentiation and therapeutic intervention. No information is available about AQP4 expression in the normal canine brain. The aim of this histopathological study is to confirm the presence of AQP4 by immunohistochemistry technique in a group of non-pathological canine brains and to describe its expression and distribution across the brain. Results Twelve non-pathological canine brains of various ages (ranging from 21 days to 17 years) and breeds were included in the study. Immunohistochemical expression of AQP4 was analyzed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissue sections. The findings were correlated between AQP4 expressing cells and astrocytes using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). AQP4 expression was more marked in the astrocyte foot processes of subpial, perivascular and periventricular surfaces in all specimens. The majority of the canine brain sections (9/12) presented with an AQP4 predilection for white matter tracts. Interestingly, the two youngest dogs (21 days and 3 months old) were characterized by diffuse AQP4 labelling in both grey and white matter tracts. This result may suggest that brain development and ageing may play a role in the AQP4 distribution throughout the canine brain. Conclusions This is the first study to describe immunohistochemical distribution of AQP4 in normal canine brains. The AQP4 expression and distribution in non-pathological canine brains was comparable to other species. Larger studies are needed to substantiate the influence of breed and ageing on AQP4 expression in the normal canine brain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 683-693
Author(s):  
Vivian Rosery ◽  
Henning Reis ◽  
Konstantinos Savvatakis ◽  
Bernd Kowall ◽  
Martin Stuschke ◽  
...  

The tumor immune microenvironment (TME) represents a key determinant for responses to cancer treatment. However, the immune phenotype of highly proliferative gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN) is still largely elusive. In this retrospective study, we characterized the TME of high-grade (G3, Ki-67 > 20%) GEP-NEN. We analyzed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from 37 patients with GEP-NEN G3 by immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence to address the abundance and spatial interaction of relevant immune subsets. We focused on the expression of immune checkpoint molecules PD-1 and PD-L1, the cytotoxic T-cell marker CD8, and the tumor-associated macrophage marker CD206. Findings were correlated with overall survival (OS) from the date of a cancer diagnosis. Patients with PD-L1-positive tumors (CPS ≥ 1) and intense PD-1+CD8+ immune cell infiltration showed the most favorable median OS. Multiplex immunofluorescence staining of ten representative tissue samples illustrated intratumoral heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression. Dense PD-1+CD8+ immune cell infiltrates were observed in PD-L1-positive tumor regions but not in PD-L1-negative regions. Proximity analysis revealed a spatial interaction between PD-1+CD8+ cells and PD-L1-positive cells. Our data suggest a pre-existing antitumor immune response in the TME in a subgroup of GEP-NEN G3. This supports a targeted clinical exploration of immunotherapeutic approaches.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Guillot ◽  
Marlene S. Kohlhepp ◽  
Alix Bruneau ◽  
Felix Heymann ◽  
Frank Tacke

Technological breakthroughs have fundamentally changed our understanding on the complexity of the tumor microenvironment at the single-cell level. Characterizing the immune cell composition in relation to spatial distribution and histological changes may provide important diagnostic and therapeutic information. Immunostaining on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples represents a widespread and simple procedure, allowing the visualization of cellular distribution and processes, on preserved tissue structure. Recent advances in microscopy and molecular biology have made multiplexing accessible, yet technically challenging. We herein describe a novel, simple and cost-effective method for a reproducible and highly flexible multiplex immunostaining on archived FFPE tissue samples, which we optimized for solid organs (e.g., liver, intestine, lung, kidney) from mice and humans. Our protocol requires limited specific equipment and reagents, making multiplexing (>12 antibodies) immediately implementable to any histology laboratory routinely performing immunostaining. Using this method on single sections and combining it with automated whole-slide image analysis, we characterize the hepatic immune microenvironment in preclinical mouse models of liver fibrosis, steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and on human-patient samples with chronic liver diseases. The data provide useful insights into tissue organization and immune–parenchymal cell-to-cell interactions. It also highlights the profound macrophage heterogeneity in liver across premalignant conditions and HCC.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 485-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon David Bernard ◽  
Laurence Albiges ◽  
Sabina Signoretti ◽  
Jesse Novak ◽  
Michelle S. Hirsch ◽  
...  

485 Background: PD-L1 is involved in immune regulation and is prognostic in many tumor types. The aim of this study was to assess PD-L1 expression in orchiectomy and metastases (mets) from GCT and to assess for an association with outcome. Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) on whole sections from archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and Gustave Roussy (IGR) was performed using anti-PD-L1 antibody E1L3N. Stained slides were scored semi-quantitatively and assessed independently. At DFCI, PD-L1 was scored as percent of positive tumor cells (TC) and extent of positive immune cell (IC) infiltrate; at IGR, a cut-off of 5% defined positive TC and IC. PD-L1 status was assessed by site, histology and chemotherapy (CT) status. PD-L1 status was correlated with clinical outcome. Most samples at DFCI were pre-CT (74.2%) whereas most at IGR were post-CT (85.4%). Results: IHC from 171 patients with GCT (89 DFCI, 82 IGR) from 1987-2014 was reviewed. The DFCI cohort included 69 orchiectomy, 15 mets and 5 unknown origin with 28 total deaths; the IGR cohort included 26 lung mets, 36 mediastinal or retroperitoneal lymph node mets and 20 primary mediastinal tumors. DFCI had 38 seminoma (S), 50 nonseminoma (NS) and 1 unknown; at IGR, 13 S and 69 NS. In both cohorts, PD-L1 staining in IC was higher in S (DFCI 33/38 moderate (mod)-high (86.8%); IGR 12/13 positive (92.3%)) vs. NS (DFCI 26/50 mod-high (52.0%); IGR 35/68 positive (51.5%)) (DFCI p = 0.003; IGR p = 0.006). At DFCI, 5 samples had PD-L1 positive TC (2 mixed GCT, 2 pure choriocarcinomas (CC) and 1 S); at IGR, 14 had positive TC (all NS, including 11 pure CC). More PD-L1 positive TC were CC than other GCT types (DFCI p = 0.003; IGR p < 0.001). In 36 S orchiectomy samples at DFCI, 0/4 that scored none-mild died and 2/31 (6.5%) that scored mod-high died (p = 1.00); in 30 NS orchiectomy samples, 4/9 (44.4%) that scored none-mild died and 2/16 (12.5%) that scored mod-high died (p = 0.14). Conclusions: Higher PD-L1 status in orchiectomy is not associated with GCT survival. PD-L1 positive TC may serve as a histological marker for CC among NS. Higher PD-L1 expression on IC in S and on TC in CC may point to immunotherapy as a therapeutic option in these tumors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e14180-e14180
Author(s):  
Tess O'Meara ◽  
Vesal Yaghoobi ◽  
Kim Blenman ◽  
Vasiliki Pelekanou ◽  
Andrea Silber ◽  
...  

e14180 Background: Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are powerful prognostic and predictive factors in TNBC. We hypothesized that survival differences in TNBC by race may be caused by differences in the tumor immune microenvironment. We assessed racial differences in the extent and composition of immune infiltration in TNBC and correlated these differences with clinical characteristics and disease-free survival (DFS). Methods: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded TNBC samples and clinical information were collected for n = 43 AA and n = 43 Caucasian cases, matched by diagnosis date and stage. Stromal TILs were assessed on H&E-stained slides. Multiplexed immunofluorescence was performed to quantify CD68 (macrophage), CD8 (cytotoxic T cell) and PD-L1 protein expression in the whole-section, tumor and stromal compartments. Average expression for each marker was calculated over all fields of view. Cox proportional hazards were used to assess associations between DFS, staining markers and clinical variables. Results: Characteristics of AA and Caucasian cases were not significantly different. There were 14 and 8 recurrences in the AA and Caucasian cohorts, respectively (median follow-up 8.7 vs 9.4 yrs). TIL counts (p = 0.031) and overall CD68 expression (p = 0.005) were higher in AA compared to Caucasian patients. 21% percent of AA cases had TIL predominant phenotype versus 3% of Caucasians, but CD8 expression was similar by race. PD-L1 expression was higher in stroma compared to tumor across all patients (median 401 vs 267 au, p = 0.002) and did not differ by race. Higher overall and stromal PD-L1 expression were associated with better DFS in the entire population (median 3501 vs 1895 days, p = 0.0009) and in each race separately. Higher CD68 expression was also associated with better DFS (median 3015 vs 2111 days, p = 0.0004). In multivariate analysis of DFS, stage at presentation remained significant (p = 0.002) in addition to PD-L1 and CD68 expression. Conclusions: AA TNBC had higher TIL counts and CD68 expression but similar CD8 and PD-L1 expression compared to Caucasians. High CD68 and PD-L1 expression were associated with better DFS in both race cohorts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhou ◽  
Xinying Shi ◽  
Huan Chen ◽  
Beibei Mao ◽  
Xue Song ◽  
...  

Background. The essential roles of the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been recognized during the initiation and progression of primary lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The aim of the present study was to delineate the immune landscape in both primary cancer and matched lymph node metastasis from a cohort of locally advanced stage LUAD patients with distinct outcomes. Methods. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples were collected from 36 locally advanced LUAD patients. Transcriptome data of the tumor immune microenvironment were resolved using an immune oncology panel RNA sequencing platform. Bioinformatics approaches were used to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), dysregulated pathways, and immune cell fraction between patients with early recurrence (ER) and late recurrence (LR). Results. Here, we showed that in primary cancer tissues, 23 DEGs were obtained between patients with ER and LR. Functional analysis revealed that the LR in LUAD patients may be associated with enriched gene sets belonging to the antigen presentation and MHC protein complex, innate immune response, and IFN-γ signaling pathways. Next, the transcriptome data were adopted to quantify immune cell fractions, indicating that high infiltration of mast cells and neutrophils was correlated with ER. Interestingly, similar findings were observed in metastatic lymph nodes from patients suffering from ER or LR. By analyzing the shared immune features of primary cancers and lymphatic metastases, we unraveled the prognostic value and joint utility of two DEGs, CORO1A and S100A8. Conclusions. In LUAD, the enrichment in antigen presentation, MHC protein complex, and IFN-γ signaling, and low infiltration of neutrophils in primary or metastatic nodules may be indications for a favorable prognosis. Integrated with bioinformatics approaches, transcriptome data of immune-related genes from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples can effectively profile the landscape of the tumor immune microenvironment and help predict clinical outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi130-vi130
Author(s):  
Kelsey Maddison ◽  
Moira Graves ◽  
Nikola Bowden ◽  
Ricardo Vilain ◽  
Michael Fay ◽  
...  

Abstract Immunotherapy has been shown to have benefit in some solid tumours including melanoma where immune infiltration can be pronounced. Until recently the central nervous system was thought to be immune privileged. Whilst research has shown that immune cells are capable of infiltrating tumours from glioblastoma patients, to date immunotherapy trials have not consistently shown a benefit in these patients. The aim of this study was to profile the immune system in primary and recurrent tumours from glioblastoma patients. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of primary and matched recurrent tumours from 13 patients with glioblastoma were processed for immunohistochemical labelling of a range of immune cell markers. Immune infiltration was scored on digitally scanned immunolabelled sections using a categorical system of 0 (absent), 1 (present), 2 (moderate) and 3 (marked). CD3+ cells were observed in three topographical locations within primary and recurrent glioblastoma tumours namely the tumour proper, perivascular spaces and associated with haemorrhages within the tumour. CD3+ cell infiltration into the tumour proper was present (Score = 1) in 7 of 13 primary and recurrent tumours. Only one case (case #9) had CD3+ infiltration scores > 1 for both primary (score = 3) and recurrent tumour (score = 2). CD3+ cells were observed in perivascular spaces in 10 of the 13 cases of primary and recurrent glioblastoma. Only case #9 had CD3+ cells in perivascular spaces that was scored >1 for both primary and recurrent tumours. In conclusion, whilst CD3+ infiltration was observed in the tumour proper and perivascular spaces within both primary and recurrent glioblastomas, the level of infiltration was quite low in this small cohort and as such requires further investigation in a larger cohort.


2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 784-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. Boozer ◽  
T. W. Davis ◽  
L. B. Borst ◽  
K. M. Zseltvay ◽  
N. J. Olby ◽  
...  

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumors in dogs. A variety of inflammatory cells have been shown to invade these tumors in people, but little is known about interactions between the immune system and naturally occurring brain tumors in dogs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of a variety of immune cell subsets within canine intracranial meningiomas. Twenty-three formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples were evaluated using immunohistochemistry with antibodies specific for CD3, CD79a, CD18, CD11d (αD), CD45RA, forkhead box P3, and Toll-like receptors 4 and 9. Immune cell infiltration was evident in all samples, with a predominance of CD3+ T cells. Large numbers of CD18+ microglia and macrophages were noted surrounding and infiltrating the tumors, and a subset of these cells within the tumor appeared to be CD11d+. Scattered macrophages at the tumor–brain interface were TLR4+ and TLR9+. Rare CD79a+ B cells were noted in only a small subset of tumors. Lesser numbers of lymphocytes that were CD11d+, CD45RA+, or FoxP3+ were noted in a number of the meningiomas. Although the function of these cells is not yet clear, work in other species suggests that evaluation of this immune cell infiltrate may provide important prognostic information and may be useful in the design of novel therapies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minyoung Kwak ◽  
Gulsun Erdag ◽  
Craig L. Slingluff

Abstract Immune cell infiltrates in melanoma have important prognostic value. Gene expression analysis may simultaneously quantify numbers and function of multiple immune cell subtypes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Prior studies report single gene expression can represent individual immune cell subtypes, but this has not been shown in FFPE melanomas. We hypothesized that gene expression profiling of human melanomas using a new RNA expression technology in FFPE tissue would correlate with the same immune cells identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC). This retrospective study included melanoma specimens analyzed by IHC on tumor tissue microarray (TMA) cores and by gene expression profiling with EdgeSeq Immuno-Oncology Assay using qNPA technology on the corresponding tumors. Standardized gene expression levels were analyzed relative to enumerated cells by IHC using Spearman rank test to calculate r-values. Multivariate analysis was performed by Kruskal–Wallis test. 119 melanoma specimens had both IHC and gene expression information available. There were significant associations between the level of gene expression and its quantified IHC cell marker for CD45+, CD3+, CD8+, CD4+, and CD20+ cells (all p < 0.001). There were also significant associations with exhaustion markers FoxP3+, PD-1+, and PD-L1+ (all p ≤ 0.0001). This new qNPA technology is useful to quantify intratumoral immune cells on FFPE specimens through RNA gene expression in metastatic melanoma. As previous studies have shown on other solid human tumors, we also confirm that the expression level of a single gene may be used to represent a single IHC immune cell marker in melanoma.


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