An immunohistochemical study on the distribution of CD1a dendritic cell density in normal and pathological lesions of the human uterus

Kalpana Ramachandran

Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

ABSTRACT

Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen presenting cells in our body that are principally responsible for the modulation of our immune responses. Dendritic cells identify the foreign antigens and stimulate the lymphoid tissue to initiate adaptive and innate immune responses. Langerhans cells (LCs) are subsets of dendritic cells that are present in small numbers in the endometrium of uterus. Langerhans cells are responsible for the initiation of host immune responses and act against the malignant transformation of tissues. The knowledge of the dendritic cells population of the uterus may help us to understand the various benign and malignant pathologies of uterus. This is a prospective Immunohistochemistry study on 40 uterine specimens. Uterine tissue samples were collected from women undergoing hysterectomy for various benign and malignant conditions of uterus. All tissues were processed subjected for 3μm sections. Dendritic cells were identified and counted per 20 high power fields (HPF). Most patients had fibroid uterus. Maximum Dendritic cells of 44 per HPF were observed in fibroid uterus with secretory endometrium. The mean dendritic cells in benign tissues were 15.95 and that in the malignant tissues were 1.375 per 20 high power fields. The mean dendritic cells per high power fields in the proliferative and secretory endometrium were 0.88 and 0.7 respectively. The present Immunohistochemistry study demonstrated the distribution of dendritic cells in the benign and malignant conditions of the uterus. A decrease in number of dendritic cells was noted in uterus with malignancy.

Keywords:

Uterus, Hysterectomy, Dendritic cell, Langerhan cell, Fibroid uterus