Spinillo A, Pizzoli G, De Seta F, Barbarini G, Zappatore R, Tenti P; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: B97 (abstract no. PoB 3064).
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pavia, Italy.
OBJECTIVES: Langerhans' cells play an important role as antigen presenting cells in local cervical immune response. We have evaluated the infiltration of Langerhans' cells in cervical biopsies obtained from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) seropositive women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in comparison to adequate controls. METHODS: Cervical biopsies from 30 HIV-seropositive patients with a histological diagnosis of CIN and biopsies obtained from 30 matched HIV-negative patients were studied. Immunohistochemical staining of S-100 protein in routine histological section was used to identify Langerhans' cells. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection was demonstrated by in situ hybridization (HPV-DNA probes 6/11, 16/18, 31/35/51). Wilcoxon rank sum test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mean counts of Langerhans' cells per 100 basal cells were lower in HIV-seropositive patients than in controls (0.99 + 0.08 vs 1.9 + 0.2 p = 0.024). In addition, 14 (46.7%) biopsies obtained from HIV-positive women had no detectable Langerhans cells as opposed to 5 (16.7%) controls (p = 0.026). These differences were independent from a coexisting HPV infection. In HIV-infected women, positive correlations between Langerhans' cells counts and CD4+ and CD8+ counts were found. AIDS patients had lower Langerhans' cells counts in comparison to both patients with AIDS-related complex (0.27 + 0.11 vs 1.2 + 0.7 p = 0.015) or asymptomatic HIV infection (0.27 + 0.11 vs 1.6 + 0.7 p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Local cervical immunity, as evaluated by the number of Langerhans' cells seems severely impaired in HIV-positive women with CIN.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Case-Control Studies
- Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
- Cervix Uteri
- Female
- HIV
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Langerhans Cells
- Papillomaviridae
Other ID:
UI: 102199412
From Meeting Abstracts