title: Quantitative evaluation of Langerhans cells in median rhomboid glossitis.
abstract: Langerhans cells (LC) serve as antigen presenting cells and provide immune surveillance within epithelia. Since depression of LC number and/or function may allow tolerance to antigens, we evaluated LC in median rhomboid glossitis (MRG), a condition linked to persistent candidal infection of lingual mucosa. Material included a total of 36 cases of MRG (7 of which did not show PAS + fungi) and 6 controls. LC were identified by their expression of S-100 and HLA-DR antigens and quantified using image analysis. Equal numbers of LC were identified using S-100 + and HLA-DR + markers. The density of LC (cells/mm of basement membrane, mean +/- SD) in both PAS + MRG (2.6 +/- 1.3) and PAS-MRG (3.0 +/- 1.7) was markedly depressed compared with controls (17.2 +/- 6.4), (P less than 0.001). These findings indicate that the LC network is perturbed in MRG, and are consistent with the view that of localized defect in immune surveillance may contribute to persistent fungal infection of the oral mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Cumming
mesh_terms: D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D005928:Glossitis / Q000473:pathology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000166:cytology*; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D009418:S100 Proteins; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine