title: Langerhans' cell population studies with OKT6 and HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies in vitiligo patients treated with oral phenylalanine loading and UVA irradiation.
abstract: In vitiligo patients, treated with oral phenylalanine loading combined with UVA irradiation (Phe-UVA), Langerhans' cells (LC) were counted in pigmented and depigmented skin. The LC, which were labelled with OKT6 and HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies, were expressed per linear mm epidermis. Before treatment the number of OKT6(+) cells was significantly increased in vitiliginous skin especially in the basal layer. Under treatment the number went down and was comparable to normal skin. When using HLA-DR labelling the number of LC increased in vitiliginous skin which had been treated with Phe-UVA. The influence of Phe-UVA on the shift of LC subpopulations is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010649:Phenylalanine