Lymphocytes and dendritic cells in the normal uterine cervix - An immunohistochemical study

Objective: Assessment of the appearance, distribution and numerical density of immune cell populations in the normal human uterine cervix. Study desig n: Setting: University Hospital Gasthuisberg. Subjects: 29 healthy women un dergoing total hysterectomy for non-cervical benign uterine disease. Analys is: Immunohistochemistry and morphometrical analysis on histological sectio ns containing ectocervix, transformation zone and endocervix, using antibod ies against the following antigens: HLA-DR, CD4, CD22, CD1a and CD8. Statis tical analysis: Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: Lymphocytes in the epithel ial and stromal compartments are predominantly T-lymphocytes. Intraepitheli al T-lymphocyte and Langerhans' cell densities and their distribution are n ot influenced by the menstrual cycle and are the same in both ectocervix an d transformation zone. Conclusion: The wide variation of T lymphocyte subpo pulations and Langerhans' cell densities in the normal epithelium of the ut erine cervix is stressed. We are the first to present a large and well-defi ned control series, which is indispensable to study the effect of smoking a nd other factors on the cervical immune system. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd. All rights reserved.