title: CD36(OKM5)+ dendritic cells in the oral mucosa of HIV- and HIV+ subjects.
abstract: In this study, we have investigated by light and electron microscopy the presence, distribution, and inner structure of CD36(OKM5)+ dendritic cells (DC) in the lamina propria and epithelium of the oral mucosa of HIV- and HIV+ subjects; in the latter, both clinically healthy areas and areas of hairy leukoplakia (HL) were studied. Perivascular CD36+ DC were present in the lamina propria of all the specimens studied. They were also found in small numbers in the epithelium of clinically healthy mucosa of HIV- and HIV+ subjects, but were practically absent from the epithelium of HL. CD36+ DC seemed to be regularly HLA-DR+ in HIV-subjects; this positivity was recognized only in some cells in the clinically healthy mucosa of HIV+ subjects, and practically never in HL. Because the only perivascular cells observed in the clinically healthy areas of HIV+ subjects were CD36+, we investigated the ultrastructure of perivascular DC in these same areas. These cells were characterized by the presence of a prominent Golgi apparatus, many lysosomes, and focal adhesions to the extracellular matrix. It may be concluded that 1) CD36+ DC are physiologic components of the oral mucosa, 2) they share some ultrastructural features with macrophages, 3) no differences in numbers were found between HIV+ and HIV- subjects, and 4) these cells are affected in their expression of HLA-DR antigens during HIV infection, particularly in areas of HL. This may be a hint that the antigen-presenting function of these cells in the oral mucosa is negatively affected during HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Dermatologica II, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pimpinelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgognoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riccardi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ficarra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaglioti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens