Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Cell Research Articles

Langerhans' cells and subtypes of human papillomavirus in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

There is strong circumstantial evidence that human papillomavirus is a cofactor in the development of cervical neoplasia. Systemic immunosuppression has also been implicated. A study was therefore carried out examining the relation between subtypes of human papillomavirus and local immunocompetent cells in the cervix. Colposcopically directed punch biopsy specimens were taken from normal cervix and from histologically proved cervical intraepithelial neoplasia for immunohistochemical studies. Human papillomavirus genome probing was performed on the abnormal specimens. A relation was apparent between decreased Langerhans' cells and moderate to high copy numbers of human papillomavirus type 16. The reduction in Langerhans' cells was significant for human papillomavirus type 18 even at low copy numbers. Conversely, the absence of human papillomavirus was associated with increased numbers of Langerhans' cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. These findings suggest that the proposed oncogenic potential of human papillomavirus type 16 and human papillomavirus type 18 in particular may be mediated by a specific effect on the afferent limb of the immune response.

Natural killer cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and human papillomavirus infection

Natural killer cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and human papillomavirus infection

Expression of major histocompatibility class II antigens by Langerhans' cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Cervical biopsy samples from 67 patients who had various grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or who showed evidence, in the form of koilocytosis, of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the uterine cervix, and from 10 women with normal cervices were examined. Cryostat sections from the biopsy samples were stained using monoclonal antibodies to T6, a Langerhans' cell marker, and to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens (HLA-DP, DQ, and DR). Epithelial Langerhans' cells were reduced in number and showed changed morphology and distribution in koilocytic lesions and in all grades of CIN (p less than 0.01) except CIN I. HLA-DR expression by Langerhans' cells was significantly increased in koilocytic lesions and in CIN grades I and II (p less than 0.05); HLA-DQ expression was significantly increased in all grades of CIN (p less than 0.05) with the increase being most pronounced in CIN I (p less than 0.01). Columnar epithelium expressed MHC class II antigens in all samples tested and squamous epithelium in four of 29 cases of CIN III. These findings support the view that there is a localised disturbance of immune function in both neoplastic cervical epithelium and that infected with papillomavirus.

Natural killer cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and human papillomavirus infection.

A semiquantitative immunocytochemical study of natural killer (NK) cells in cervical mucosa was performed by the immunoperoxidase technique using anti-Leu-7 and anti-Leu-11 monoclonal antibodies. NK cells were present in two of the five normal controls and five of six specimens showing human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Of the 12 CIN studied, six were positive for both Leu-7 and Leu-11 staining and three were positive for Leu-11 alone. NK cells were found predominantly in the subepithelial stroma. The frequency and pattern of distribution of these cells were similar in all grades of CIN. The number of NK cells present was usually small but the degree of infiltration by Leu-11 positive cells was pronounced in two HPV infections and in one CIN 1. NK cells may have a role in surveillance against HPV infection and the development and progression of CIN.