Characterization of HLA class I altered phenotypes in a panel of human melanoma cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Altered HLA class I cell surface expression is one of the major mechanisms by which tumor cells escape from T lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry-defined phenotypes of lost HLA class I expression have been described in human solid tumors, nut less information is available on melanoma cell lines.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency and distribution of different types of HLA class I antigen alterations in 91 melanoma cell lines from the European Searchable Tumour Cell and Databank (ESTDAB).
METHODS: The HLA class I expression was assessed by flow cytometry and HLA genotyping.
RESULTS: We found various types of HLA class I cell surface alterations in about 67% of the melanoma cell lines. These alterations range from total to selective HLA class I loss due to loss of heterozygosity (LOH), haplotype loss, beta2-microglobulin gene mutation, and/or total or selective down-regulation of HLA class I molecules. The most frequently observed phenotype is down-regulation of HLA-B locus that was reversible after treatment with IFN -gamma.
CONCLUSIONS: In general, HLA class I alterations in the majority of the cells analyzed were of regulatory nature and could be restored by IFN-gamma. Analysis of the frequency of distinct HLA class I altered phenotypes in these melanoma cell lines revealed specific differences compared to other types of tumors.