Journal Article

Comparing T Cell Subsets in Broncho-Alveolar Lavage (BAL) and Peripheral Blood in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

Rezmives, Nicole Alessia, Listì, Angela, Capelletto, Enrica, Mecca, Caterina, Di Maio, Massimo, Sangiolo, Dario, Tabbò, Fabrizio, Indellicati, Davide, Carnio, Simona, Bungaro, Maristella, Geuna, Massimo, Bironzo, Paolo, Novello, Silvia, Bertaglia, Valentina, Reale, Maria Lucia, Righi, Luisella, De Filippis, Marco, Paratore, Chiara, Mariniello, Annapaola, Passiglia, Francesco, Consito, Lorena, Tesauro, Martina

2022

Overview

Background: Lung cancer (LC) tissue for immunological characterization is often scarce. We explored and compared T cell characteristics between broncho-alveolar lavage from tumor affected (t-BAL) and contralateral lung (cl-BAL), with matched peripheral blood (PB). Methods: BAL and PB were collected during bronchoscopy for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes in patients with monolateral primary lesion. Results: Of 33 patients undergoing BAL and PB sampling, 21 had histologically-confirmed LC. Most cases were locally-advanced or metastatic non-small cell LC. T cell characteristics were not significantly different in t-BAL vs. cl-BAL. Compared to PB, CD8 T cells in BAL presented features of immune activation and exhaustion (high PD-1, low IFN-g production). Accordingly, regulatory CD4 T cells were also higher in BAL vs. PB. When dichotomizing T cell density in t-BAL in high and low, we found that PD-L1 expression in LC was associated with T cell density in t-BAL. T-BAL with high T cell density had higher %IFN-g+CD8 T cells and lower %T-regs. Conclusion: In BAL from advanced LC patients, T cells present features of exhaustion. T cells in t-BAL could be the best surrogate of tumor-infiltrating T cell, and future studies should evaluate T cell phenotype and density as potential biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy outcome.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Alveoli / B7-H1 Antigen - metabolism / BAL / Biomarkers / Biopsy / Blood / Bronchoalveolar lavage / Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Bronchoscopy / Cancer immunotherapy / Care and treatment / CD4 antigen / CD8 antigen / Cell density / Cytokines / Flow cytometry / Health aspects / Hospitals / Humans / immunology / Immunotherapy / Interferon / Interferon-gamma - metabolism / Lung cancer / Lung Neoplasms - immunology / Lymphocytes / Lymphocytes T / Medical prognosis / Metastases / Methods / PD-1 / PD-1 protein / PD-L1 protein / Peripheral blood / Phenotypes / Pneumonia / Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - metabolism / Pulmonology / Software / T cell / T cell receptors / T cells / T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology / Therapeutic applications