Phenotypic and Functional Analysis at the Clonal Level of Infiltrating T Lymphocytes in Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid: Prevalence of Cytolytic T Cells with Natural Killer-Like or Lymphokine-Activated Killer Activity*

Abstract

We investigated the phenotype and function of thyroid tumor-, metastatic lymph node-, and peripheral blood-derived T lymphocytes of four patients with papillary thyroid cancer. Both phenotypic analysis of freshly isolated cells and clonal analysis, using a high efficiency cloning technique, were performed. For comparison, intrathyroid and peripheral blood T lymphocytes derived from patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases (Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis) have been studied. In papillary cancer, the phenotype of thyroid and lymph node-derived T lymphocytes did not differ from that of peripheral blood lymphocytes of the same patients or lymphocytes from normal peripheral blood. At variance with respect to autoimmune thyroid disease, activation markers were poorly represented. The functional analysis of T cell clones showed similar proportions of interleukin-2-producing (helper-inducer) clones in thyroid, lymph node, and peripheral blood, slightly lower than in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and slightly higher than in Graves' disease. With regard to effector function, we found lower proportion of clones with cytolytic activity in a lectin-dependent assay compared to that in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Interestingly, however, the proportions of cytolytic clones displaying cytolytic activity against the neoplastic cell line K562 (natural killer-like activity) or fresh unrelated tumor cells (lymphokine-activated killer activity) were relatively high in thyroid cancer infiltrates.

Impact of co‐existent thyroiditis on clinical outcome in papillary thyroid carcinoma with high preoperative serum antithyroglobulin antibody: a retrospective cohort study

“…Given the histopathologic similarities between CLT and HT, it might be assumed that a Fas‐induced mechanism exists in CLT that involves the neoplastic cells of PTC; if expression of Fas is induced in the neoplastic cells of PTC, Fas ligand might enhance apoptosis in PTC via Fas . It is postulated that the infiltrated lymphocytes in patients with PTC are likely to be cytotoxic T cells with natural killer or lymphokine‐associated killer activity that act as carcinoma cell killers and secrete cytokines, such as interleukin‐1, that suppress carcinoma cell growth . Therefore, both humoral and cytotoxic T‐cell‐mediated destruction involved in autoimmune thyroid disorders may have a direct or indirect effect on PTC.…”

Coexistence of Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Clinical Manifestation and Prognostic Outcome

“…Bagnasco et al (22) reported a higher proportion of cytotoxic T cells with natural killer (NK)-like or lymphokine-activated killer activity in PTC infiltrating T cells compared to those occurring in autoimmune thyroid disorders (Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease). In addition to the primarily cell-mediated inflammatory reaction observed in PTC.…”

Coexistence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with papillary thyroid carcinoma: The influence of lymph node metastasis

“…Moreover, cytokines such as interleukin-1 suppress carcinoma cell growth indirectly. 21,22 The autoimmunization process associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated with antigenproducing B lymphocytes, cytotoxic T cells, and macrophages Table 4. Lymph node metastasis according to Hashimoto's thyroiditis stratified by preoperative TSH Level.…”