DISTRIBUTION OF INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES AND MACROPHAGES IN CERVICAL MICROENVIRONMENT DURING THE PROGRESSION OF CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA.

Microenvironment plays central role in the development of cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) represents a group of precancerous lesions, divided into three degrees. We investigated the distribution of intraepithelial lymphocytes and macrophages in different grades of CIN. We analysed lymphocyte marker CD103, macrophage marker CD68 and proliferation marker Ki67 using standard immunohistochemistry. In addition, we investigated the distribution of lymphocytes using standard haematoxylin and eosin method. The results of our study indicated thatgrade I CIN which subsequently progressed into grade II CIN was characterised with low lymphocytic infiltration, low lympho-epithelial index and low lymphocyte proliferation index. Similar results were seen in cases of CINII which were later progressed into CINIII or in carcinoma. Therefore, we would like to recommend the analysis of microenvironment alterations in CIN lesions, in order to assess their progression potential.