Distribution of cytokeratins in oral cytological smears of HIV-infected patients

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Abstract
Cytological smears (CS), taken from the lateral border of the tongue of HIV-seropositive patients (HIV+) (n = 34) and of seronegative controls (HIV-) (n = 16), were examined by means of immunocytochemistry (APAAP) for the distribution patterns of different cytokeratins and MHC class II antigens. Compared with HIV- patients in CS of HIV-infected patients cornification associated cytokeratins 10/11 were increased, while the number of keratinocytes positive for cytokeratins 13/16 was comparable in both groups. Expression of simple epithelial cytokeratins 19, rarely observed in CS of HIV- patients, was a frequent findings in CS of HIV+ patients. Keratinocytes positive for MHC class II antigens were observed in CS of 12/34 HIV+, while all control CS were negative. In the group of HIV+ patients no correlation was found between the clinical presence of HL and the expression of cytokeratins or class II antigens. The altered distribution of cytokeratins may reflect local responses to proliferative stimuli or local inflammation due to the presence of microbial antigens or may occur as a general unspecific reaction in the setting of systemic viral infection. This non-invasive technique seems to be a valuable tool to determine the proliferation rate of oral epithelial cells.

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