Dendritic cell distribution in mycosis fungoides vs. inflammatory dermatosis and other T-cell skin lymphoma

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells with an important role in the innate and adaptive immune system. In skin lesions, cutaneous DCs (Langerhans cells, dermal DCs and plasmacytoid DCs) are involved in immune activation in inflammatory benign lesions, as well as in malignant lymphoid proliferations. Density and distribution of DCs in the dermal infiltrate can be helpful to differentiate benign, reactive infiltrate from malignant nature of the lymphoid population. We performed a retrospective study including 149 patients: 35 with mycosis fungoides, 35 with spongiotic dermatitis, 35 with psoriasis, 35 with lupus and 9 with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (other than mycosis fungoides), diagnosed using histopathological and immunohistochemical stains. Density and distribution of DCs were evaluated using specific markers (CD1a, CD11c and langerin). In all cases, numerous DCs were identified in the dermal infiltrate. Their number was significantly increased in mycosis fungoides and T-cell lymphomas and moderately increased in inflammatory lesions. Variable patterns of distribution were identified such as clusters of DCs with arachnoid extension in mycosis fungoides, nodular pattern in inflammatory lesions and dispersed distribution with peripheric accumulation in T-skin lymphomas. Therefore, immunohistochemical characterization of DC distribution can be an adjuvant tool in differential diagnosis in inflammatory dermatosis and skin lymphomas.

Penile carcinoma and HPV infection (Review)

“…However, a study that focused on the immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine found that it is highly efficient in men aged from 16 to 26 years, with seroconversion within 7 months, with antibodies being detected even at 36 months, numbers comparable with those encountered in clinical trials conducted in female patients (51). In a study conducted by Giuliano et al (52) similar results regarding the efficacy of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine against HPV infection in male patients were found (53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61).…”

“…There are ~20 types of HPV which are known to infect the genital tract and they are classified as 'high-risk' and 'low-risk' depending on the probability to cause cancer. A study found fifteen HPV types which were classified as high risk: 16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,68,73 and 82, with HPV-16 having the highest risk of progressing to cancer (10). Type 6 and 11 were found in benign lesions, therefore they were classified as low-risk subtypes.…”

Modulation of the activity of certain genes involved in tumor cell metabolism in the presence of the cytotoxic peptides defensin and cathelicidin LL37

“…Metabolic and inflammatory changes are important in the carcinogenesis process as they increase protein assembly and ER activity, leading to ER stress. The stress response of ER is cytoprotective and is involved in cancer cell growth and adaptation to the aggressiveness of its environment (20,21). ER-located pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) is involved in carcinogenesis.…”

Skin ‑ a vast organ with immunological function (Review)

“…Langerhans cutaneous cells. Langerhans cells are antigenpresenting dendritic cells (25,26) that play a role in long-term immunity. They were discovered in 1970 by Ralph Steinman and Zanvil Cohn and are involved in the generation of CD8 + lymphocytes and in the transformation of CD4 + lymphocytes into various cell subtypes (Th1, Th2, Th17) (21).…”