Langerhans Cells in Human Papillomaviruses Types 6/11 Associated Laryngeal Papillomas

Abstract

Ferluga D, Luzar B, Vodovnik A, Poljak A, Cör A, Gale N, KambiČ V. Langerhans cells in human papillomaviruses types 6/11 associated laryngeal papillomas.

Some studies have shown a reduced density of Langerhans cells (LCs) within epithelium infected by human papillomaviruses (HPV) types 16/18. However, data on a correlation between HPV types 6/11 infection and LCs have been missing. To solve this problem, we analysed 24 biopsy specimens of laryngeal papillomas, selected randomly, 20 multiple and 4 solitary. The presence of HPV 6 and 11 was proven by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 2 different sets of primers in 23 biopsy specimens. Abnormalities of the covering stratified squamous epithelium were graded according to the KambiČ-Gale classification. LCs were immunohistochemically labelled with 2 different antibodies, CD1a and S100. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine the density of LC per mm² in different grades of epithelial abnormalities covering laryngeal papillomas. Although no statistically significant differences in the mean number of LCs per mm² of the cross-sectioned epithelium covering laryngeal papillomas were observed comparing simple, abnormal and atypical hyperplasia groups, the mean number of LCs per mm² in laryngeal papillomas associated with HPV types 6/11 infection substantially exceeded that of the vocal cord surface epithelium in patients with chronic laryngitis.

Key Words:

• laryngeal papillomas
• Langerhans cells
• human papillomavirus
• immunohistology
• CDla antibody
• S100 antibody
• quantitative pathology