Dynamics of cervical langerhans cell counts in the course of HPV-positive CIN treatment with the use of human recombinant interferon gamma.
OBJECTIVE
Langerhans cells play a pivotal role as professional antigens presenting cells in cervical epithelium, thus changes in their density or/and function may profoundly influence the proper activation of the afferent arm of immune response in cases of HPV-related intraepithelial lesions.


OBJECTIVE
Assessment of intraepithelial Langerhans cell count changes in CIN I/CIN II after human recombinant interferon gamma (IFNgamma) application and correlation with clinical outcome.


METHODS
The present study is a part of prospective trial on IFNgamma application in the treatment of CIN I/CINII associated with high-risk HPV infection. Seventeen subjects underwent uniform IFNgamma treatment (four intracervical injections in a two-day interval for a total dose of 6,000,000 IU). Langerhans cells were stained within cervical punch biopsy specimens with the use of polyclonal anti-S-100 antibody according to the three-step indirect peroxidase protocol, and their mean count calculated for the following groups: before IFNgamma treatment launching, immediately after completion of the treatment, and after two months of follow-up.


RESULTS
The analysis revealed a rapid and significant increase in Lagerhans' cell count immediately after treatment completion (21.17/mm2 and 25.94/mm2, respectively, at p = 0.019) which further increased in the group of complete response (in 9 subjects; 32.22/mm2). After transient elevation of the Langerhans' cell count it returned to a level even lower than initially in the non-responder group (4 subjects; 20.25/mm2).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data strongly support the observation from static studies suggesting that regression of HPV-related cervical lesions is associated with increased density of epithelial Langerhans cells.
Genix-Medical Centre, Lublin, Poland.
M
M
Sikorski
T
T
Bieda
M
M
Bobek
H
H
Zrubek
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002452:Cell Count; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma