Expression of MHC Class II antigens by oesophageal epithelium in herpes simplex oesophagitis.

An immunoperoxidase technique with monoclonal antibodies for the identification of lymphocyte subsets and MHC Class II antigens was applied to oesophageal biopsies from two patients with herpetic oesophagitis. Oesophageal epithelial cells were found to express the MHC Class II antigen. The inflammatory infiltrate of the lamina propria was composed of both B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.