Distribution of Dendritic Cells in AIDS-Associated Oral Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if the distribution of Langerhans cells (LC) and interstitial dendritic cells (IDC) is altered in AIDS-associated oral Kaposi’s sarcoma when compared to HIV-negative highly vascular oral lesions. Fifty-one cases of AIDS-associated oral Kaposi’s sarcoma and 20 of highly vascular oral lesions were retrospectively retrieved. All cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma were confirmed with immunoreactions against CD34 and HHV-8. Clinical data regarding sex, age and lesions location were obtained from pathology reports. Immunohistochemistry against CD207 (immature dendritic cells) and CD83 (mature dendritic cells) were done. LC were in the epithelium and IDC in the stroma. CD207+ cells predominated in the epithelium of the lesions, whereas CD83+ cells predominated in their stromal compartment. Kaposi’s sarcoma had a lower CD207+ immature LC count (p=0.02) and an increased CD207+ IDC than highly vascular oral lesions (p<0.001). Moreover, Kaposi’s sarcoma also showed an increased number of mature CD83+ IDC than highly vascular oral lesions (p<0.001). There were significant alterations in the distribution of LC and IDC in AIDS-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma when compared to HIV-negative vascular oral lesions, suggesting that changes in their concentrations may play a role in the pathogenesis of Kaposi’s sarcoma.

Relação da alta incidência do sarcoma de Kaposi em pacientes soropositivos para o HIV/AIDS

“…Essas células são encontradas no epitélio e tem como função detectar e capturar patógenos invasores, ativando assim, a resposta imune. Sendo assim, estudos recentes já conseguiram demonstrar que a CD e a CL possuem uma participação importante para a infecção do HHV-8, que é uma infecção oportunista (Cáceres et al, 2019).…”

“…Sendo assim, principalmente no meio oral, onde há saliva e sangue que tenha a presença do HHV-8, torna-se um local favorável para o desenvolvimento do SK (Schuch et al, 2021). Outrossim, o HIV causa a recidiva de células da defesa como, células de langerhans (CL) e as células dendritícas (CD) que executam um papel importante na identificação de antígenos e citocinas estranhos a células T, responsáveis pela ativação do sistema imune, o que facilitaria ainda mais a invasão desse sarcoma (Cáceres et al, 2019).…”