Intratumoral T cell subset ratios and Fas ligand expression on brain tumor endothelium

Introduction: T cell presence in TIL, and the ratio of CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell subsets in particular, can correlate with tumor prognosis in some tumors, although the significance of such infiltration into glioma is controversial. However, gliomas represent a lower extreme in their extent of T cell infiltration, and are thus useful in assessing factors that can decrease T cell presence within tumor tissue. Fas ligand, a pro-apoptotic cell surface protein, may play a key role in reduction of T cells in tumor tissue. Objective: To assess the level of FasL expression on brain tumor endothelium and to correlate this with relative levels of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets in TIL from brain tumors. Methods: CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+) cells were quantified in fresh TIL by flow cytometry. Paraffin embedded sections of tumors, including meningiomas and gliomas as well as extracranial malignancies, underwent immunohistochemical staining for FasL and Von-Willebrand's factor ( Factor VIII) to determine expression levels of endothelial FasL. Results: FasL expression was high in aggressive intracranial malignancies compared to more indolent neoplasms, and correlated inversely with CD8(+)/CD4(+) TIL ratios in all tumor classes combined (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Low levels of T cells within TIL, as well as low CD8(+)/CD4(+) TIL ratios appear to be a property of parenchymal tumor presence. Together with the inverse correlation seen between FasL expression and CD8(+)/CD4(+) TIL ratios, the high levels of endothelial FasL expression in gliomas suggests that FasL decreases T cell presence in brain tumors in a subset-selective manner, thus contributing to glioma immune privilege.