Prevalence of HLA-DRB1 genotype and altered Fas/Fas ligand expression in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Abstract

A distinctive feature of malignant adrenocortical neoplasms is decreased major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule expression. However, it is unknown whether there exists a restriction to certain MHC genotypes and whether this involves alterations of the Fas/Fas ligand system and thereby affects tissue homeostasis. Therefore, MHC class II phenotype and genotype and expression patterns of the Fas/Fas ligand system were investigated in 24 adrenocortical tumors (n(Adenomas) = 14, n(Carcinomas) = 10) and an adrenal cancer cell line (NCI-H295). No MHC class II antigen expression was detected in carcinomas. The DRB1*01 genotype was found in 54.5% of patients with carcinoma (P = 0.046). No prevalence of any genotype could be detected in patients with adenomas, which exhibited varying levels of antigen expression. Fas receptor expression was 75.0% in adenomas compared with 20.0% in carcinomas (P = 0.0196), whereas ligand expression was 37.7% in adenomas and reached almost 100% in the carcinomas investigated in this study (P = 0.0033). In summary, the DRB1*01 genotype may be correlated to a higher risk for malignancy. Additional studies on MHC class II genotype and phenotype and the altered Fas/Fas ligand system in adrenal neoplasms may help to identify mechanisms of immune escape and suggest new diagnostic approaches.

• Authors: Gernot W Wolkersdörfer, Christian Marx, John Brown, Sabine Schröder, Monika Füssel, E Peter Rieber, Eberhard Kuhlisch, Gerhard Ehninger, Stefan R Bornstein
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 90 Issue 3 Pg. 1768-74 (Mar 2005) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 15585555 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• FASLG protein, human
• Fas Ligand Protein
• HLA-DR Antigens
• HLA-DRB1 Chains
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• fas Receptor

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms (epidemiology, genetics, metabolism)
• Adrenocortical Carcinoma (epidemiology, genetics, metabolism)
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Fas Ligand Protein
• Female
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease (epidemiology)
• Genotype
• HLA-DR Antigens (genetics)
• HLA-DRB1 Chains
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• fas Receptor (metabolism)