Altered expression of desmosomal components in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix.

We have used immunohistochemistry to test the hypothesis that components of the desmosome are disrupted during neoplastic progression of squamous epithelial cells in the uterine cervix. Sections of normal cervix and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) were immunostained for desmosomal proteins and glycoproteins, and results were assessed using a semi-quantitative grading system. No difference between normal cervix and low-grade SIL (LSIL) was found. A significant reduction in expression of desmogleins was seen between high-grade SIL (HSIL) and LSIL (P<0.01) and normal cervix (P<0.001). Desmocollin expression was not reduced significantly, although scores showed significantly greater variation in HSIL compared with LSIL (P<0.05) and normal cervix (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in desmoplakin expression among the three groups. The results suggest that there may be sequential disruption of desmosomal function during neoplastic progression of cervical squamous intraepithelial cells, with downregulation of desmogleins during the progression from LSIL to HSIL and loss of desmocollin expression occurring in some cases of established HSIL.