Cell Biology International Reports, Vol. 4, No. 8, August 1980 757 PANCREATIC CANCER AND LYMPHOCYTE SURVEILLANCE IN VITRO G.Greenberg, Anne Grant, G.Burnstock and J.Hermon-Taylor Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University College and Department of Surgery, St.George's Hospital Medical School,London A human pancreatic exocrine cancer cell line previously estab- lished in tissue culture' was studied by time-lapse cinephoto- micrography using infrared sensi- tive colour film. The behaviour of these cells in co-culture with normal human fibroblasts and white blood cells was also observed. In contrast to normal cells the predominant activity seen in the malignant epithelial monolayer was cell division. This occurred in cells at the margins of the colony as well as in those at the centre. Co-cultivation of human pancreatic cancer cells with normal human syngeneic or allogeneic pancreatic fibroblasts showed no evidence of invasion of the territories of the two cell types. The behaviour of human peripheral blood leucocytes towards these co-cultures was observed. Lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and. platelets ad- hered to the surface of the fibroblast monolayer whereas only lymphocytes appeared on the surface of the malignant cell sheets. The number of lymphocytes surveying the surface of fibroblast monolayers compared to cancer cell monolayers was measured both separately and in co-culture. When grown separately the number of lymphocytes on the fibroblasts was 2-10 times greater than the number on tumour cell sheets. In the co- cultures both syngeneic and allogeneic lymphocytes showed a clear preference for the fibroblasts with up to 50 times the number of lymphocytes surveying the normal cells (Fig.1). Direct contact between T-lymphocytes and target cells is essential for the recognition phase and effector phase of lymphocyte med- iated cytotoxicity against foreign grafts and tumour cells*". The preferential association of lymphocytes with normal fibroblasts in vitro compared with pancreaticcan- cer cells, and the apparent exag- eration of this effect in co- culture, may be related to the way in which cancer cells evade immuno- logical recognition and attack. 1. Grant, A.G., Duke, D. & Hermon-Taylor, J. (1979) Br J Cancer 39, 143-151 2. Hollander, N. & Ginsburg, H. (1972) J Exp Med 136, 1344-1355 3. Cerottini, J-C. & Brunner, K.T. (1979) Adv Immunol 18, 67-132 Fig.1: Pancreatic cancer cells (left), normal fibroblasts (right) and lymphocytes (examples arrowed) x 370 0309-l 651/80/080757-01/$02.00/0 01980 Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd.

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Page 1: Pancreatic cancer and lymphocyte surveillance

Cell Biology International Reports, Vol. 4, No. 8, August 1980 757

PANCREATIC CANCER AND LYMPHOCYTE SURVEILLANCE IN VITRO

G.Greenberg, Anne Grant, G.Burnstock and J.Hermon-Taylor Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University College and

Department of Surgery, St.George's Hospital Medical School,London

A human pancreatic exocrine cancer cell line previously estab- lished in tissue culture' was studied by time-lapse cinephoto- micrography using infrared sensi- tive colour film. The behaviour of these cells in co-culture with normal human fibroblasts and white blood cells was also observed.

In contrast to normal cells the predominant activity seen in the malignant epithelial monolayer was cell division. This occurred in cells at the margins of the colony as well as in those at the centre.

Co-cultivation of human pancreatic cancer cells with normal human syngeneic or allogeneic pancreatic fibroblasts showed no evidence of invasion of the territories of the two cell types. The behaviour of human peripheral blood leucocytes towards these co-cultures was observed. Lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and. platelets ad- hered to the surface of the fibroblast monolayer whereas only lymphocytes appeared on the surface of the malignant cell sheets.

The number of lymphocytes surveying the surface of fibroblast monolayers compared to cancer cell monolayers was measured both

separately and in co-culture. When grown separately the number of lymphocytes on the fibroblasts was 2-10 times greater than the number on tumour cell sheets. In the co- cultures both syngeneic and allogeneic lymphocytes showed a clear preference for the fibroblasts with up to 50 times the number of lymphocytes surveying the normal cells (Fig.1).

Direct contact between T-lymphocytes and target cells is essential for the recognition phase and effector phase of lymphocyte med- iated cytotoxicity against foreign grafts and tumour cells*". The preferential association of lymphocytes with normal fibroblasts in vitro compared with pancreaticcan- cer cells, and the apparent exag- eration of this effect in co- culture, may be related to the way in which cancer cells evade immuno- logical recognition and attack.

1. Grant, A.G., Duke, D. & Hermon-Taylor, J. (1979) Br J Cancer 39, 143-151

2. Hollander, N. & Ginsburg, H. (1972) J Exp Med 136, 1344-1355

3. Cerottini, J-C. & Brunner, K.T. (1979) Adv Immunol 18, 67-132

Fig.1: Pancreatic cancer cells (left), normal fibroblasts (right) and lymphocytes (examples arrowed) x 370

0309-l 651/80/080757-01/$02.00/0 01980 Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd.