Lymphocytes and dendritic cells in the normal uterine cervix: An immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Objective: Assessment of the appearance, distribution and numerical density of immune cell populations in the normal human uterine cervix. Study design: Setting: University Hospital Gasthuisberg. Subjects: 29 healthy women undergoing total hysterectomy for non-cervical benign uterine disease. Analysis: Immunohistochemistry and morphometrical analysis on histological sections containing ectocervix, transformation zone and endocervix, using antibodies against the following antigens: HLA-DR, CD4, CD22, CD1a and CD8. Statistical analysis: Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: Lymphocytes in the epithelial and stromal compartments are predominantly T-lymphocytes. Intraepithelial T-lymphocyte and Langerhans' cell densities and their distribution are not influenced by the menstrual cycle and are the same in both ectocervix and transformation zone. Conclusion: The wide variation of T lymphocyte subpopulations and Langerhans' cell densities in the normal epithelium of the uterine cervix is stressed. We are the first to present a large and well-defined control series, which is indispensable to study the effect of smoking and other factors on the cervical immune system.