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 c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ 1988-09, Vol.297 (6649), p.643-646
Main Authors: Hawthorn, R. J., Murdoch, J. B., MacLean, A. B., MacKie, R. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antigen presenting cells
Antigens
Biopsies
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Cervix Uteri - pathology
Epithelial cells
Female
Genes, Viral
Humans
Immunity
Islets of Langerhans
Langerhans Cells - immunology
Langerhans Cells - pathology
Neoplasia
Papillomaviridae - genetics
Sodium
T lymphocytes
Tumor Virus Infections - immunology
Tumor Virus Infections - pathology
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - immunology
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology
Viruses
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0959-8138
1468-5833
1756-1833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.297.6649.643