The microenvironment of germ cell tumors harbors a prominent antigen-driven humoral response

J Immunol. 2009 Mar 1;182(5):3310-7. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0803424.

Abstract

Germ cell tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms derived from residual primordial tissue. These tumors are commonly found in the brain, testes, or ovaries, where they are termed germinomas, seminomas, or dysgerminomas, respectively. Like several other tumor types, germ cell tumors often harbor an immune cell infiltrate that can include substantial numbers of B cells. Yet little is known about whether the humoral immune response affects germ cell tumor biology. To gain a deeper understanding of the role B cells play in this tumor family, we characterized the immune cell infiltrate of all three germ cell tumor subtypes and defined the molecular characteristics of the B cell Ag receptor expressed by tumor-associated B cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed a prominent B cell infiltrate in the microenvironment of all tumors examined and clear evidence of extranodal lymphoid follicles with germinal center-like architecture in a subset of specimens. Molecular characterization of the Ig variable region from 320 sequences expressed by germ cell tumor-infiltrating B cells revealed clear evidence of Ag experience, in that the cardinal features of an Ag-driven B cell response were present: significant somatic mutation, isotype switching, and codon insertion/deletion. This characterization also revealed the presence of both B cell clonal expansion and variation, suggesting that local B cell maturation most likely occurs within the tumor microenvironment. In contrast, sequences from control tissues and peripheral blood displayed none of these characteristics. Collectively, these data strongly suggest that an adaptive and specific humoral immune response is occurring within the tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / biosynthesis*
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Clone Cells
  • Dysgerminoma / immunology
  • Dysgerminoma / metabolism
  • Dysgerminoma / pathology
  • Germinoma / immunology
  • Germinoma / metabolism
  • Germinoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
  • Medulloblastoma / immunology
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / immunology*
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / pathology
  • Seminoma / immunology
  • Seminoma / metabolism
  • Seminoma / pathology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region

Associated data

  • GENBANK/FJ604240
  • GENBANK/FJ604241
  • GENBANK/FJ604242
  • GENBANK/FJ604243
  • GENBANK/FJ604244
  • GENBANK/FJ604245