title: S-100 immunolabelling of Langerhans cells in oral epithelium.
abstract: Langerhans cells (LCs) are dendritic cells usually present in the suprabasal regions of squamous epithelia remarkable by the presence of Fc IgG and C3 receptors, Ia/Dr, T-6 and T-4 antigens on their membranes. Conventional and immunohistochemical techniques for identification of LCs require special fixation procedures and are incompatible with paraffin embedding. A method for staining LCs, in routine fixed and paraffin-embedded material, based on the use of antiserum against S-100 proteins is presented. The problem arising from the simultaneous staining of melanocytes is discussed. S-100 positive dendritic cells should be considered as LCs when fulfilling 3 criteria: located in the suprabasal layers of the epithelium; the whole cell body being visible; with at least one dendritic process.
mesh_terms: D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins