15,582
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→Langerhans cell hypothesis: Edit text; Improve reference.
Recent circumcision studies in Africa were conducted under the hypothesis that the [[Langerhans cells]] were the prime port of entry for the HIV virus. According to the hypothesis, circumcision was supposed to prevent HIV transmission by removing the Langerhans cells found in the inner mucosal lining of the foreskin.
deWitte found that not only are Langerhans cells found all over the body and that their complete removal is virtually impossible. Furthermore, but furthermore, deWitte found that Langerhans cells that are present in the [[foreskin ]] produce ''Langerin'', a substance that has been proven to kill the HIV virus on contact, acting as a natural barrier to HIV-1 transmission by Langerhans cells.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=de Witte
|first=Lot
|title=Langerin is a natural barrier to HIV-1 transmission by Langerhans cells
|journal=Nature Medicine
|volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=367-71
|url=http://www.circumcisionandhiv.com/files/de_Witte_2007.pdf
|quote=
|pubmedID=17334373 |pubmedCID=10.1038/nm1541
|DOI=10.1038/nm1541
|date=2007-03-04
|accessdate=20112020-0607-2802
}}</ref>