T lymphocytes (CD3) may participate in the recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III.
OBJECTIVE
Data from the literature demonstrate that the local and systemic immune responses seem to play an important role in the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Our aim was to investigate whether recurrences among CIN III patients might be related to the presence of local lymphocytes, macrophage and enzyme iNOS.


METHODS
We analyzed 35 patients with CIN III who underwent conization and followed up for a minimum of 4 years. Using immunohistochemistry, the presence of T lymphocytes (CD3, CD8 and CD45RO), B lymphocytes (CD20), macrophages (CD68) and the expression of the enzyme iNOS were investigated. The quantity of marked cells is graded as: 0, absence of cells; 1, rare cells; 2, moderate number of cells; 3, many cells. For statistical purposes, we took the scores 0 and 1 to indicate weak marking and the scores 2 and 3 to indicate strong marking.


RESULTS
We found strong positive expression of CD3-positive T lymphocytes among CIN III patients with recurrence following conization (100 vs. 50% without recurrence, p=0.02). We did not find any statistical differences in the expression of CD20, CD68, CD45RO, CD8 or iNOS.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that strong positive findings of CD3 T lymphocytes were related to recurrence following conization due to CIN III.
Maluf
P J
PJ
Research Institute of Oncology (IPON)/ Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Avenida Getúlio Guaritá, s/n, CEP 38025-440, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Michelin
M A
MA
Etchebehere
R M
RM
Adad
S J
SJ
Murta
E F C
EF
D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D017252:CD3 Complex; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II