Immunohistochemical study of CD1a positive dendritic cells in normal, benign and malignant lesions of the human uterus and cervix

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Dendritic cells (DCs) perform the function of antigen-presenting cells of the immune system of mammals. After demonstration of DCs in the human cervix, more focus fell on the role of DCs distributed in various benign and cancerous lesions of endometrium. In our study, we have studied the role of CD1a positive DCs in non-malignant and cancerous tissues of the uterus and human cervix. Materials and Methods: A prospective analysis was conducted on patients who had undergone hysterectomy and cervical biopsy. After a detailed menstrual cycle history, the processed specimens were subjected for hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining. The CD1a positive cells were counted per 20 high power fields and the mean cells per high power field (HPF) was calculated. Results: Eighty specimens were studied. Forty-six uterine and 34 cervix specimens were studied. The average chronological age of our study patients was 45.7 years. Bleeding per vaginum was the most common presentation. Fibroid uterus was the most common indication for hysterectomy. The minimum and maximum DCs amongst the 80 specimens were 1 and 246 per 20 HPF and the overall mean was 72.7. The mean cervical and uterine DCs per HPF were 7.7 and 0.7 respectively (P=0.0116). The average DCs per HPF in benign group were more than that in malignant specimens (9.23 and 1.76, respectively). Conclusion: A higher concentration of DCs in the cervical tissue was observed. Malignant tissues showed a lesser number of DCs than the benign specimens.