Characterization of human afferent lymph dendritic cells from seroma fluids.

Dendritic cells (DCs) migrate from peripheral tissues to secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) through the afferent lymph. Owing to limitations in investigating human lymph, DCs flowing in afferent lymph have not been properly characterized in humans until now. In this study, DCs present in seroma, an accrual of human afferent lymph occurring after lymph node surgical dissection, were isolated and analyzed in detail. Two main DC subsets were identified in seroma that corresponded to the migratory DC subsets present in lymph nodes, that is, CD14(+) and CD1a(+). The latter also included CD1a(bright) Langerhans cells. The two DC subsets appeared to share the same monocytic precursor and to be developmentally related; both of them spontaneously released high levels of TGF-ß and displayed similar T cell-activating and -polarizing properties. In contrast, they differed in the expression of surface molecules, including TLRs; in their phagocytic activity; and in the expression of proteins involved in Ag processing and presentation. It is worth noting that although both subsets were detected in seroma in the postsurgical inflammatory phase, only CD1a(+) DCs migrated via afferent lymph under steady-state conditions. In conclusion, the high numbers of DCs contained in seroma fluids allowed a proper characterization of human DCs migrating via afferent lymph, revealing a continuous stream of DCs from peripheral regions toward SLOs under normal conditions. Moreover, we showed that, in inflammatory conditions, distinct subsets of DCs can migrate to SLOs via afferent lymph.

The effect of vaginally administered genistein in comparison with hyaluronic acid on atrophic epithelium in postmenopause.

PURPOSE: The quality of life in postmenopause is seriously affected by the symptoms related to vaginal atrophy. To evaluate in a 3-month, prospective, randomized, double blind, study whether vaginal suppositories containing genistein might improve genital symptoms, colposcopical and cytologic findings or modify DNA cytometric features in postmenopausal women affected by vaginal atrophy, in comparison with vaginal suppositories containing hyaluronic acid (HA). METHODS: A total of 62 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to receive intravaginally 97 µg of genistein (group A, n = 31) or 5 mg of HA (group B, n = 31) daily for 15 days continuously/month for 3 months. Vaginal and cervical smear, colposcopy, vaginal biopsy were performed before and at the end of the study. Maturation value (MV) was calculated. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy (DI) and S-phase fraction (SPF) were performed. RESULTS: After 90 days of study, a significant improvement was obtained in genital symptoms, colposcopy scores and MV (p < 0.001) in both groups; the improvement obtained by genistein was more effective especially regarding genital score (p value between groups 0.001). No significant change was found in SPF value and DI. CONCLUSION: Both treatments improved genital symptoms, colposcopical features and MV, although genistein was more effective on genital score. Both treatments did not significantly influence flow cytometry parameters, although genistein showed slight decrease in DI, with a normalization of the aneuploid content present in some cases that could represent an additional application of intravaginal phytoestrogen therapy, providing an alternative therapy of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal patients. The results of this investigation should be considered preliminary and need to be verified in larger, prospective studies.