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Langerhans cells in vulvar lichen sclerosus and vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

Rotsztejn H, Trznadel-Budźko E, Jesionek-Kupnicka D

Section of Dermatology, Research Institute of the Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital, Rzgowska 281/284, 93-338, Łódź, Poland, rotsztejn@onet.eu.

INTRODUCTION: Langerhans cells (LCs), specializing in antigen presentation, are a very important part of the skin immune system (SIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin biopsies from 22 women with vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS): 15 patients with early and 7 with the late stage of the disease, were evaluated. Five women with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were also examined. The control group consisted of 9 women who underwent plastic surgery of the vulvar region. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues samples using antihuman CD1a antibody (NCL-CD1a-235, Novocastra). RESULTS: Increased numbers of LC stainings were present in early LS, whereas decreased numbers of these cells were present in late LS and in SCC compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that dysregulation of the SIS may lead to suppression of LCs in the vulvar epithelium and may be one of the reasons for a higher tendency for carcinogenesis in the vulvar region.

Published 23 October 2006 in Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 54(5): 363-366.
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