Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunological and histochemical analysis of regional variations of epidermal Langerhans cells in normal human skin

  • Papers
  • Published:
The Histochemical Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Epidermal Langerhans' cells (LC) were enumerated in normal human skin from various anatomical sites using a monoclonal antibody (NA1/34) to human thymocyte antigen (HTA-1) and the standard ATPase reaction on frozen sections. The same population of cells was identified with each technique. LC densities were found to be significantly higher in hair bearing skin than in skin from the palm and sole. LC were also identified in hair follicles (where the numbers decreased from the superficial to the deep portions) and sebaceous glands but in no other adnexal structure. Normal numbers were encountered in patients who had received radiotherapy or systemic chemotherapy for malignant disease for periods of greater than two months before death. As LC are important antigen presenting cells, the variation in their density suggests that the immunological properties of normal skin may not be uniform throughout the body. This may be related to the varying anatomical distribution of some skin disorders with an immunological basis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alyassin, T. M. &Toner, P. G. (1976) Langerhans cells in the human oesophagus.J. Anat. 122, 435–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergstresser, P. R., Toews, G. B., Gilliam, J. N. &Streilein, J. W. (1980) Unusual numbers and distributions of Langerhans cells in skin with unique immunologic properties.J. Invest. Dermatol. 74, 312–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman, B. &France, D. S. (1979) Histochemical analysis of Langerhans' cells.Am. J. Dermatopathol. 1, 215–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birbeck, M. S., Breathnach, A. S. &Everall, J. D. (1961) An electron microscopic study of basal melanocytes and high level clear cells (Langerhans cells) in vitiligo.J. Invest. Dermatol. 37, 51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J., Winkelmann, R. K. &Wolff, K. (1967) Langerhans cells in vitiligo: a qualitative study.J. Invest. Dermatol. 49, 386–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu, A., Eisinger, M., Lee, J. S., Takezaki, S., Kung, P. C. &Edelson, R. L. (1982) Immunoelectron microscope identification of Langerhans cells using a new antigenic marker.J. Invest. Dermatol. 78, 177–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elleder, M., Povysil, C., Rozkovcova, J. &Cihula, J. (1977) Alpha-d-mannosidase activity in Histiocytosis X.Virchows Arch. (Pathol) 26, 139–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan, J., Schoenfeld, R. J. &Hunter, R. (1959) A study of epidermal clear cells with special reference to their relationship to the cells of Langerhans.J. Invest. Dermatol. 32, 445–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fithian, E., Kung, P., Goldstein, G., Rubenfeld, M., Fenoglio, C. &Edelson, R. (1981) Reactivity of Langerhans cells with hybridoma antibody.Proc. Natn. Acad. Sci, U.S.A. 78, 2541–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gschnait, F. &Brenner, W. (1979) Kinetics of epidermal Langerhans cells.J. Invest. Dermatol. 73, 566–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchens, L. H., Sagebiel, R. W. &Clarke, M. A. (1971) Oral epithelial dendritic cells of the Rhesus monkey-histologic demonstration, fine structure and quantitative distribution.J. Invest. Dermatol.,56, 325–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jimbow, K., Sato, S. &Kukita, A. (1969) Langerhans cells in the normal pilosebaceous system. An electron microscopic investigation.J. Invest. Dermatol. 52, 177–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juhlin, L. &Shelley, W. B. (1977) New staining techniques for the Langerhans cell.Acta derm. venereol. (Stockh) 57, 289–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klareskog, L., Tjernlund, U. M., Forsum, W. &Peterson, P. A. (1977) Epidermal Langerhans cells express Ia antigens.Nature 268, 248–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisi, P. (1973) Investigation of Langerhans cells in pathological human epidermis.Acta derm. venereol. (Stockh) 53, 425–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lojda, Z., Gossrau, R. &Schiebler, T. H. (1979)Enzyme Histochemistry. A Laboratory Manual, 1st edn, p. 98. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie, I. C. &Squier, C. A. (1975) Cytochemical identification of ATPase positive Langerhans cells in EDTA-separated sheets of mouse epidermis.Br. J. Dermatol. 92, 523–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mcmichael, A. J., Pilch, J. R., Galfre, G., Mason, D. Y., Fabre, J. W. &Milstein, C. (1979) A human thymocyte antigen defined by a hybridoma myeloma monoclonal antibody.Eur. J. Immunol. 9, 205–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, G. F., Bhan, A. K., Sato, S., Harrist, T. J. &Mihm, M. C. (1981) Characterization of Langerhans cells by the use of monoclonal antibodies.Lab. Invest. 45, 465–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordlund, J. J. &Ackles, A. (1981) A method for quantifying Langerhans cells in epidermal sheets of human and murine skin.Tissue Antigens 17, 217–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponder, B. A. &Wilkinson, M. M. (1981) Inhibition of endogenous tissue alkaline phosphatase with the use of alkaline phosphatase conjugates in immunohistochemistry.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29, 981–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rausch, E., Kaiserling, E. &Goos, M. (1977) Langerhans cells and interdigitating reticulum cells in the thymus-dependent region of human dermatopathic lymphadenitis.Virchows Arch. (Pathol) 25, 327–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, P. A. (1967) A study of the distribution of epidermal dendritic cells in pigmented and non-pigmented skinJ. Invest. Dermatol. 48, 28–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, P. G. &Brandon, D. R. (1981) A modification of the adenosine triphosphatase method to demonstrate epidermal Langerhans cells.Stain Technol. 56, 87–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowden, G., Chespak, L. W., &More, N. (1981) Epidermal Langerhans cell morphology and distribution after topical nitrogen mustard treatment. InThe Epidermis in Disease (edited byMarks, R. andChristophers, E.), p. 1. 31. Philadelphia: Lippincott (Medical).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowden, G., Phillips, T. M. &Lewis, M. G. (1979) Ia antigen on indeterminate cells of the epidermis. Immunoelectron microscopic studies of surface antigen.Br. J. Dermatol. 100, 531–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saurat, J. H. (1981) Cutaneous manifestations of graft versus host disease.Int. J. Dermatol. 20, 249–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweizer, J. &Marks, F. (1977) A developmental study of the distribution and frequency of Langerhans cells in relation to formation of patterning in mouse tail epidermis.J. Invest. Dermatol. 69, 198–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelley, W. B. &Juhlin, L. (1976) Langerhans cells form a reticulo-epithelial trap for external contact antigens.Nature 261, 46–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silberberg, I., Baer, R. L. &Rosenthal, S. A. (1976) The role of Langerhans cells in allergic contact hypersensitivity: review of findings in man and guinea pig.J. Invest. Dermatol. 66, 210–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silberberg-Sinakin, I., Thorbecke, G. J., Baer, R. L., Rosenthal, S. A. &Berezowsky, V. (1976) Antigen-bearing Langerhans cells in skin, dermal lymphatics and in lymph nodes.Cell Immunol. 25, 137–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stingl, G., Wolff-Schreiner, E. C. H., Pichler, W. J., Gschnait, F., Knapp, W. &Wolff, K. (1977) Epidermal Langerhans cells bear Fc and C3 receptors.Nature 268, 245–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J. A., Janossy, G., Chilosi, M., Pritchard, J. &Pincott, J. R. (1982) Combined immunological and histochemical analysis of skin and lymph node lesions in histiocytosis X.J. Clin. Pathol. 35, 327–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toews, G. B., Bergstresser, P. R. &Streilein, J. W. (1980) Epidermal Langerhans cell density dertermines whether contact hypersensitivity or unresponsiveness follows skin painting with DNFB.J. Immunol. 124, 445–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, K. &Winkelmann, R. K. (1967) Quantitative studies on the Langerhans cell population in guinea pig epidermis.J. Invest. Dermatol. 48, 504–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelickson, A. S. &Mottaz, J. H. (1968) Epidermal dendritic cells. A quantitative study.Arch. Dermatol. 98, 625–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histopathology, Haddow Laboratories, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK

    J. A. Thomas, M. Biggerstaff & J. P. Sloane

  2. Division of Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK

    D. F. Easton

Authors
  1. J. A. Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Biggerstaff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. P. Sloane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. F. Easton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thomas, J.A., Biggerstaff, M., Sloane, J.P. et al. Immunological and histochemical analysis of regional variations of epidermal Langerhans cells in normal human skin. Histochem J 16, 507–519 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01041351

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01041351

Keywords

Search

Navigation