Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 2003; 9(6): 1370-1373
Published online Jun 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i6.1370
In situ expression and significance of B7 costimulatory molecules within tissues of human gastric carcinoma
Xiao-Li Chen, Xu-Dong Cao, An-Jing Kang, Kang-Min Wang, Bao-Shan Su, Yi-Li Wang
Xiao-Li Chen, An-Jing Kang, Kang-Min Wang, Bao-Shan Su, Department of Pathology, Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Provice, China
Xu-Dong Cao, Medical School of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Yi-Li Wang, Institute of Immunopathology, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Provice, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Xiao-Li Chen, Department of Pathology, Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China. chenxiaoli64.student@sina.com
Telephone: +86-29-8546322
Received: October 25, 2002
Revised: November 4, 2002
Accepted: November 16, 2002
Published online: June 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To explore the role and significance of costimulatory molecules B7H1, B7H2 and ICOS within tissues of human gastric carcinoma and the possible mechanisms in tumor escape.

METHODS: mRNA expressions of costimulatory molecules including B7H1, B7H2, ICOS and B7-1 in tissues of human gastric carcinoma were investigated by in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide-probes. The tissue of chronic gastric ulcer was used as a control. All data were analyzed by SPSS statistic software.

RESULTS: At the site of gastric carcinoma, mRNA expression levels of B7H1, B7H2 and ICOS were much higher than that of B7-1. Their mRNA positive expression indexes were 0.512 ± 0.333, 0.812 ± 0.454, 0.702 ± 0.359 and 0.293 ± 0.253, respectively. The positively stained cells were mainly tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and some tumor cells. The difference between them was greatly significant P < 0.005. The mRNA expression levels of four molecules were not correlated to the pathological grade and matastasis of gastric carcinoma.

CONCLUSION: ICOS-B7H costimulatory pathway may be predominant at the site of gastric carcinoma. B7-1mRNA might be the basis of ICOS-B7H interaction. ICOS-B7H interaction induces the production of IL-10 which inhibits the antitumor immune responses. Therefore, it is supposed that ICOS-B7H costimulatory pathway may be involved in the negative regulation of cell-mediated immune responses.

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