title: HPV and intraepithelial neoplasia recurrent lesions of the lower genital tract: assessment of the immune system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immune state in patients with genital relapse HPV and intraepithelial lesions of the lower genital tract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients were selected. Twenty-one were affected by recurrent HPV infection either alone or combined with intraepithelial neoplasia treated by laser surgery, and 22 had been previously-treated and clinically cured without recurrence during a follow-up from 18 to 24 months. The diagnostic protocol included colposcopy with eso- and endocervical cytology histologically confirmed by directed biopsy. Afterwards patients underwent a systemic immunogenic evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NK cell reduction was strictly related to HPV infection associated with intraepithelial lesions; B-lymphocyte reduction was percentually greater in patients affected by HPV alone; activation of R-IL2 increased in a percentage overlapping in the two groups indicating patient reaction to the virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study supports the theory that immune response directed against viral antigens is one of the most important effectors in the control of HPV infections and that HPV is the cause of a systemic rather than local lesion.
authors.affiliation: II Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stentella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frega
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccarone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cipriano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzantzoglou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pachì
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2