title: Langerhans cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia related to smoking habits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compare the numerical densities of intraepithelial Langerhans cells of uterine cervix of women affected by cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3) with their smoking habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 71 conization specimens of women affected by CIN 3 were separated in 3 groups according to their smoking habits (smokers, nonsmokers, and former smokers). The identification of the Langerhans cells was performed by immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies to S100 protein. The number of intraepithelial Langerhans cells was counted at x400 magnification under a light microscope, and a 10-field count was performed in areas of CIN 3 of each section. Results were expressed as number of cells per square millimeter of epithelium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the number of Langerhans cells per square millimeter of epithelium in areas affected by CIN 3 among the 3 groups (p = .5). There was also no significant difference in the number of cigarettes smoked per day (p = .09), duration of consumption (p = .34), total amount of cigarettes smoked during the whole life (p = .18), and duration of abstention (p = .2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was not shown that smoking reduces the number of intraepithelial Langerhans cells in the cervix of women affected by CIN 3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Science College of Santa Casa of São Paulo, Brazil. abcampaner@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Adriana Bittencourt
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Campaner
authors.forename: Sebastião
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piato
authors.forename: Maria Antonieta L
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: Roberto Euzébio
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Ricardo F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Nadais
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012907:Smoking; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins