The characterization of the exposure to immune mediated apoptosis and the regulation of immune cytotoxic activity in the environment of a neoplasm and in decidua

Acquiring the immune-mediated apoptosis and the ability to regulate the cytotoxic immune response are the main phenomena playing fundamental roles in such situations as neoplasm survival and creation of immune tolerance during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate these phenomena through the evaluation of metallothionein and RCAS1 proteins in neoplasm and its healthy environment (clear surgical margin), physiological conditions in placenta and its environment (decidua) and the comparison to non-neoplasmatic lesions originating from the environment (nasal polyps, endometriosis). We have shown that the growth of RCAS1 expression was simultaneous to the infiltration of activated immunological cells of tumor environment as well as decidua. The activity of immunological cells was in our study selectively suppressed. Metallothionein expression growth was also observed in healthy tumors stroma and in decidua probably in response to the growing cytotoxic activity and tumor spread. Alterations in RCAS1 and Metallothionein expression seem to be associated with local immune dysfunction in nasal polyps and endometriosis. In conclusion, the ability to compensate the growing cytotoxic immune response is physiologically observed in decidua, the lost of this ability in tumor environment might participate in the development of tumor spread.