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Use of Interferon-γ Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay to Characterize Novel T-cell Epitopes of Human Papillomavirus
Published on: March 8, 2012
Immunocytochemical characterization of large granular lymphocytes in normal cervix and HPV associated disease
1Histopathology Department, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, U.K.
Insights
Large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) expressing T-cell markers increase in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), not specifically with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Natural killer (NK) cells are confined to the stroma.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gynecologic Pathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) play a role in immune surveillance.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is linked to cervical neoplasia.
- Understanding immune cell infiltration in cervical disease is crucial.
Observation:
- A subset of LGLs expressing CD56 was identified in the normal and diseased cervix.
- These CD56-positive cells were found within the ectocervical epithelium.
- Cells expressing classical Natural Killer (NK) markers (CD16, CD57) were restricted to the stroma.
Findings:
- CD56-positive LGLs, identified as CD3+, CD8+, CD56+, CD16+, increased in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) compared to normal cervix.
- This increase was associated with CIN, not specifically with HPV infection.
- Stromal LGLs, including CD16-positive cells, were observed near endocervical glands.
Implications:
- The study identifies a specific LGL subset that infiltrates the ectocervical epithelium in CIN.
- This finding suggests a role for T-cell expressing LGLs in the pathogenesis of cervical neoplasia.
- Distinguishing between epithelial and stromal immune cell populations is important for understanding cervical disease progression.
Abstract:
A quantitative immunocytochemical study of large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) in the normal cervix and in human papillomavirus (HPV) associated disease was performed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies which included those for LGL surface markers CD56, CD16, and CD57. Only CD56-positive cells were found within the ectocervical epithelium and these cells increased in number in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in comparison with normal cervix. Examination of serial sections and double labelling suggests that these cells are CD3+, CD8+, CD56+, CD16+. The observed increase in number of this subset was not associated specifically with HPV infection but was related to CIN. Lymphocytes expressing all three LGL markers were found in the stroma and CD16(+)-positive cells clustered around endocervical glands with occasional cells extending into the endocervical epithelium. These results indicate that a small subset of LGLs which express T-cell markers is increased in number in CIN. Cells expressing classical NK markers are restricted to the stroma and are not found within the ectocervical epithelium.
