E-cadherin and CD44 expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: Comparison between HIV-positive and HIV-negative women and correlation with HPV status

Aims. We aimed to compare the expression patterns of E-cadherin and CD44 isoforms in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) between patients with or without infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods. An immunohistochemical analysis using the monoclonal antibody HECD-1 against E- cadherin and the monoclonal antibodies 2C5, binding to CD44s and all the variants encoded by exons 3 to 10, 3G5, specific for CD44v3 and 2F10, and specific for CD44v6, was performed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 138 CIN (74 from HIV-negative and 64 from HIV-positive patients). Results. In HIV-negative patients, the mean percentages (±SD) of E-cadherin- positive cells in CIN of grades I, II, and III were, respectively, 33% ± 4, 63% ± 5, and 91% ± 9. The difference was statistically significant between the three groups of tumors (P<0.0001). In HIV-negative patients, the mean percentages (±SD) of CD44-positive cells in CIN of grades I, II, and III were, respectively, 37% ± 7, 57% ± 8, and 90% ± 11. The difference was statistically significant between the three groups of tumors (P<0.0001). No difference in E-cadherin and CD44 expressions was noted between HIV+ and HIV- women. Further analysis showed no relation between E-cadherin or CD44 expression and the HPV status and CD4 T cell serum levels. Conclusion. Our study confirms that alterations in E-cadherin and CD44 expression in CIN depend on the histological grade but suggest nondirect involvement and are not related to HIV and immune status.