Premium
Reduced number of Langerhans cells in oesophageal mucosa from AIDS patients
Author(s) -
Marie-Clotilde Charton-Bain,
Benoı̂t Terris,
Marie-Christine Dauge,
C Marche,
Francine Walker,
Olivier Bouchaud,
Luc Xerri,
F Potet
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.1999.00653.x
Subject(s) - gastroenterology , pathogenesis , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immunohistochemistry , immunopathology , langerhans cell , stage (stratigraphy) , pathology , antibody , biopsy , virus , viral disease , immunology , immune system , biology , paleontology
Aims The oesophageal mucosa is a frequent target of opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Langerhans cells (LC) are known as a target and reservoir of HIV in the skin. The aim of this study was to characterize oesophageal LC in HIV‐infected patients. Methods and results Thirty oesophageal biopsies were obtained from 29 patients (median age 35.5), all in stage IV of the HIV Center of Disease Control Classification. We performed histological assessment of the oesophageal mucosa and immunohistochemical detection of oesophageal LC using an anti‐CD1a antibody, followed by morphometric analysis. Biopsies from 17 noninfected patients were studied using the same procedure. LC in oesophageal mucosa of the HIV positive patients showed a significantly and dramatically decreased number (LC(N) median = 5.85/mm 2 ) and surface/epithelial surface (LC (S) ratio = 0.09) when compared with HIV‐negative controls (LC(N) median = 29.7/mm 2 , LC(S) ratio = 1.83) with P = 0.003 for LC(N) and P < 0.0001 for LC(S). Conclusion These data suggest that oesophageal LC are, like their epidermal counterparts, a preferential target for HIV infection. Their alterations may provide a clue to the pathogenesis of the decreased local oesophageal immunity and to the occurrence of opportunistic infections.