title: Long term effect on epidermal dendritic cells of four different types of exogenous inflammation.
abstract: In the present study we produced allergic, irritant, ultraviolet and liquid nitrogen inflammation in human volunteers. Biopsies were taken from each test site and adjacent normal skin as control 4-5 weeks later. The monoclonal antibodies OKT 6 and HLA-DR were used for light microscopic detection of Langerhans' cells (LC). At all 4 post-inflammatory test sites the number of epidermal LC (OKT 6 positive as well as HLA-DR positive) were significantly increased compared to normal skin. Also, the density of dermal dendritic cells was increased in post-inflammatory test sites. The increased number of epidermal LC seems to be a result of inflammation and not a specific event strongly related to certain cutaneous inflammatory disorders. The present investigation supports the theory that epidermal LC play a role in skin homeostasis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000506:poisoning; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000473:pathology*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens