ENRICHED HLA-DQ3 PHENOTYPE AND DECREASED CLASS-I MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX ANTIGEN EXPRESSION IN RECURRENT RESPIRATORY PAPILLOMATOSIS

Respiratory papillomas, caused by human papillomaviruses, are benign t umors that recur following removal. We evaluated immune function and m ajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) phenotype and expression in thes e patients. MHC-independent immune function appeared normal. The frequ ency of peripheral blood MHC class II phenotypes was highly enriched f or DQ3 and DR11, one split of DR5. Class I MBC antigen expression on p apilloma tissue wats markedly reduced. Together, these phenomena may f acilitate papillomavirus evasion of the cellular immune response.