Local immune response in persistent cervical dysplasia.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in local immune response between persistent and regressive cervical dysplasia. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative study of Langerhans cells, pan-T cells, and helper-inducer T cells in the subepithelial connective tissue using immunohistochemical techniques with S-100 protein antibody, UCHL1, and OPD4, respectively, in 52 paraffin sections. The subjects were patients with persistent cervical dysplasia and a comparable control group of 46 patients with regressive dysplasia. RESULTS: In the subepithelial stroma, the mean (+/- standard deviation) numbers of S-100- and OPD4-positive cells in the persistent group were 8.6 +/- 8.1 and 84.6 +/- 66.3, respectively, compared with 15.1 +/- 9.4 and 147.0 +/- 67.7, respectively, in the regression group. These data demonstrate a significant reduction of Langerhans cells and helper-inducer T cells (P < .0002 and P < .0001, respectively) with persistent dysplasia. CONCLUSION: The decreased numbers of S-100-positive Langerhans cells and helper-inducer T cells in persistent dysplasia compared to those of regressive dysplasia strongly support a decreased local immune response in persistent cervical dysplasia.