Objective: To investigate the different immune functions in normal cervix, CIN and cervical cancer tissue and the relationship between HPV infection and local cervical immune functions.
Methods: The morphology, quantity, distribution and optical density of CD4+ Th cells, S-100 dendritic cells and CD57+ NK cells in normal cervical tissue, CIN cervical tissue and cervical cancer tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry and imaging analysis.
Results: In the precancerous lesions, the numbers of the CD4+ Th cells, S-100+ DC and CD57+ NK cells increased with the disease progression in CIN (P < 0.05). But, after carcinogenesis, the immune cells decreased in local cervix tissue (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The local tissue of human cervical precancerous lesions had more heightened immune functions as compared with the cancer tissue.