Tumour associated lymphocytes in the pleural effusions of patients with mesothelioma express high levels of inhibitory receptors

• Main Authors: Jonathan Chee, Mark W. Watson, Abha Chopra, Bella Nguyen, Alistair M. Cook, Jenette Creaney, Willem J. Lesterhuis, Bruce W. Robinson, Y. C. Gary Lee, Anna K. Nowak, Richard A. Lake, Alison M. McDonnell
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018-12-01
• Series: BMC Research Notes
• Subjects: Mesothelioma; Pleural effusion; T cell receptor
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3953-x

Abstract Objective Pleural effusion (PE) is a common feature of malignant pleural mesothelioma. These effusions typically contain lymphocytes and malignant cells. We postulated that the PE would be a source of lymphocytes for analysis of tumor immune milieu. The aim of this study was to compare the phenotype and T cell receptor usage of pleural effusion T cells with paired concurrently drawn peripheral blood lymphocytes. We used multi-parameter flow cytometry and high-throughput T cell receptor sequencing to analyse peripheral blood and pleural effusion mononuclear cells. Results Both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells from effusion showed increased expression of T cell inhibitory receptors PD-1, LAG-3 and Tim-3 compared to blood. Comprehensive T cell receptor sequencing on one of the patients showed a discordant distribution of clonotypes in the antigen-experienced (PD-1+) compartment between effusion and blood, suggesting an enrichment of antigen specific clonotypes in the effusion, with potential as an immunological response biomarker.