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Antagonistic Roles of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-Cells in 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene Cutaneous Carcinogenesis

¹ Department of Dermatology and Skin Diseases Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham and ² Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama

Requests for reprints: Nabiha Yusuf, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Boulevard, VH 566A, P.O. Box 202, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019. Phone: 205-934-7432; Fax: 205-934-5745; E-mail: nabiha{at}uab.edu.

Key Words: skin carcinogenesis • 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) • immunoprevention • contact hypersensitivity • T cells

The role that cell-mediated immune responses play during cutaneous carcinogenesis has received little attention. In this study, we evaluated the contribution of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in C3H/HeN mice that were subjected to a two-stage 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) initiation, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) promotion skin carcinogenesis protocol. In CD8 knockout (CD8^–/–) mice, allergic contact hypersensitivity to DMBA was reduced compared with wild-type (WT) C3H/HeN mice. On the other hand, CD4 knockout (CD4^–/–) mice developed an exaggerated contact hypersensitivity response. CD4⁺ T cells from DMBA contact–sensitized mice preferentially produced interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-10, and IL-17; CD8⁺ T cells, on the other hand, secreted IFN-. When CD4^–/–, CD8^–/–, and WT mice were subjected to a standard two-stage DMBA/TPA cutaneous carcinogenesis protocol, the percentage of mice with tumors was much greater (P < 0.001) in CD8^–/– mice than in WT mice. In contrast, the percentage of tumors was significantly less (P < 0.001) in CD4^–/– mice than in WT mice. Similar results were obtained when the data were evaluated as the number of tumors per mouse. These findings indicate that (a) CD8⁺ T cells are the predominant effector cells in allergic contact hypersensitivity to DMBA and that CD4⁺ T cells have an inhibitory role and (b) the development of CD8⁺ T cells plays a protective role in skin tumor development whereas CD4⁺ T cells have the opposite effect. Manipulation of T-cell subpopulations that are induced by carcinogenic chemicals, like DMBA, could be a means of preventing skin cancers caused by these agents. [Cancer Res 2008;68(10):3924–30]