Analysis of functional Phenotype of DC in OSCC

Objectives: To elucidate the functional status of Dendritic cell (DC) in primary site of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)and its regional lymph node . Methods: 34-case specimens with OSCC and cervical lymph node were selected as studied subjects. 30-case normal mucosa from oral mucocele, and 10-case samples of tonsils were used as control ones. Distribution of DC expressing CD1a+, HLA-DR+ and CD83+ in the tumor site and its cervical lymph node , normal mucousal membrane, and tonsils was examined with immunohistochemistry. The number of DC expressing the antigens was counted randomly. The density of DC, the ratio of CD83+ /CD1a+ and the rate of expressing HLA-DR+ were analyzed between the study and control groups. Results: The DC density of CD1a+ was significantly lower in tumor tissue (17.00) than normal mucousal membrane (23.40). The rate of HLA-DR+ expression in the tumor site was 32.02%, no significant difference in comparison with the oral normal mucous (21.69%). The DC density of CD1a+ in the cervical lymph node (30.65) was significantly higher than the tonsils (13.40). The ratio of CD83+ /CD1a+ was significantly lower in the cervical lymph node (0.56) than the tonsils (2.80). Conclusions: OSCC could abate the density of infiltrating DC in tumor microenviroment as a result of immunodeficiency of the patients. The functional mature of DC might be inhibited so that it maybe have some difficulty in presenting antigen.