title: Assessment by planimetry of Langerhans' cell density in penile epithelium with human papillomavirus infection: changes observed after topical treatment.
abstract: Langerhans' cells could have an important role in the immune surveillance for the malignant transformation associated with certain viral infections. A planimetric study of Langerhans' cells was performed on epithelial sheets obtained from male and female patients who presented with human papillomavirus-induced condylomata. Preliminary epidemiological studies have indicated that after a human papillomavirus infection the risk of malignant transformation is higher in the cervix than in the penis. Our study was designed in such a way that the Langerhans' cell density observed in condylomata could be compared to that detected in adjacent normal areas from the same patients. The results showed that a highly significant decrease in Langerhans' cells occurred in male and female human papillomavirus infected genital tracts. In the penis the local treatment with 5-fluorouracil restored the normal Langerhans' cell density. The significance of these findings in relationship with malignant transformation is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunogenética, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ronchetti
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Secchi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cufré
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paredes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fainboim
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010413:Penis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents