       Document 0480
 DOCN  M9610480
 TI    Comparative investigation of Langerhans' cells and potential receptors
       for HIV in oral, genitourinary and rectal epithelia.
 DT    9601
 AU    Hussain LA; Lehner T; Division of Immunology, United Medical School,
       Guy's Hospital,; London.
 SO    Immunology. 1995 Jul;85(3):475-84. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96005841
 AB    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is commonly transmitted, during
       homosexual and heterosexual intercourse, through the rectal and
       cervicovaginal mucosa, foreskin and urethral epithelia. However, there
       is uncertainty about HIV transmission through the oral mucosa by oral
       sex. We have carried out a comparative immunohistological investigation
       of primate oral, cervicovaginal, foreskin, urethral and rectal epithelia
       for potential HIV receptors. We investigated epithelial tissues for CD4
       glycoprotein, which is the principal receptor for HIV, Fc receptors of
       IgG for binding HIV-IgG antibody complexes, and HLA class II, which
       might enable HIV-bound CD4+ cells to gain access to the epithelial
       cells. CD4 glycoprotein was not found in oral, foreskin, urethral,
       vaginal or rectal epithelial cells, although CD4+ mononuclear cells were
       present in the lamina propria of each epithelium. Fc gamma II and Fc
       gamma III receptors were found in urethral, endocervical and rectal
       epithelia, and Fc gamma III and Fc gamma I receptors in the foreskin.
       However, Fc gamma receptors were not found in oral epithelium (buccal,
       labial, lingual or palatal) and only Fc gamma III receptors were
       detected in the gingival epithelial cells. HLA class II antigen was also
       not detected in foreskin, oral or rectal epithelium, but it was
       expressed by endocervical cells from most human specimens and in male
       urethral epithelia of non-human male primates. Langerhans' cells were
       found in all epithelia except those of the urethra and rectum, and they
       can express CD4 glycoprotein, Fc gamma receptors and HLA class II
       antigen. The mean number of Langerhans' cells expressing CD4 in the
       upper third of oral epithelium was significantly lower compared with
       vaginal epithelium or foreskin. The HIV-binding V1 domain of CD4 was
       significantly decreased in Langerhans' cells present in oral compared
       with vaginal epithelium. The results suggest that the foreskin in
       uncircumcised men and the cervicovaginal epithelium in females might
       become infected via the CD4+ Langerhans' cells. However, urethral
       infection might be mediated by HIV-antibody complexes binding to
       urethral epithelial Fc gamma receptors. The paucity of Langerhans' cells
       expressing the V1 domain of CD4, the absence of Fc gamma receptors, and
       a lack of expression of HLA class II antigens in most oral epithelial
       cells, argue against transmission of HIV through the normal intact oral
       mucosa.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Antibodies, Monoclonal  B-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY
       Comparative Study  CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY  Dendritic
       Cells/IMMUNOLOGY  Epithelium/IMMUNOLOGY  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/IMMUNOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  HLA-DR Antigens/ANALYSIS
       Langerhans Cells/*IMMUNOLOGY  Macrophages/IMMUNOLOGY  Male  Middle Age
       Mouth Mucosa/*IMMUNOLOGY  Receptors, HIV/*ANALYSIS  Receptors,
       IgG/ANALYSIS  Urogenital System/IMMUNOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

