title: Correlation of T-helper secretory differentiation and types of antigen-presenting cells in squamous intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix.
abstract: This study addressed the notion that the progression of cervical cancer is associated with a T-helper 2 (TH2) immunodeviation by analysing cytokine expression in 60 cervical biopsy specimens, spanning the spectrum from normal cervical tissue to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs). The biopsies were analysed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of TH1 [interleukin-2 (IL2), interferon gamma (IFN gamma)] and of TH2-type cytokines (IL4, IL6). Positive cells were usually observed in the subepithelial connective tissue, where most CD4+ cells were also detected. The density of IL2+ cells was significantly lower in high-grade SILs than in normal tissues taken either from the ectocervix or from the transformation zone. In contrast, significantly higher densities of IL4+ cells and, to a lesser degree, IL6+ cells were found in SIL biopsies compared with histologically normal tissues taken from the adjacent ectocervical region. A significantly higher IL4+/CD4+ cell ratio was also found in high-grade SILs (82 per cent) than in normal cervical biopsies taken from the transformation zone of healthy women showing squamous metaplasia (27 per cent). The elevated density of TH2+ cells in SIL biopsies was associated with both the expression of HLA-DR by keratinocytes and a diminished number of intraepithelial Langerhans' cells (CD1a+). In conclusion, the increased TH2+/CD4+ cell ratio in SIL biopsies suggest the presence, during cervical carcinogenesis, of a TH2 immunodeviation that could participate in the immunoescape of preneoplastic cervical keratinocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liège, CHU Sart Tilman, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: al-Saleh
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moutschen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doyen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boniver
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delvenne
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4