title: Occurrence of IgE-bearing epidermal Langerhans cells in atopic eczema: a study of the time course of the lesions and with regard to the IgE serum level.
abstract: Uninvolved and lesional skin of untreated and treated patients with atopic eczema has been investigated immunohistochemically to determine the conditions in which IgE-bearing CD1a+ Langerhans cells/indeterminate cells (LC/IC) occur in this disease. IgE-bearing epidermal dendritic cells were present in patients with elevated IgE serum level (greater than 300 UI/ml) and the staining pattern was stronger in lesional skin. On double immunostaining, a subpopulation of CD1a+ LC/IC was found not to bear IgE molecules as determined by the ratio IgE+/CD1a+ cells on serial sections as well. The ratio IgE+/CD1a+ cells decreased in patients who underwent a local therapy with glucocorticosteroids. These results suggest that the expression of IgE receptors and/or binding of IgE molecules on epidermal LC/IC in atopic eczema may be controlled by a complex network of mediators from the epidermis or the inflammatory infiltrate, or both, and that this phenomenon could be down regulated by glucocorticosteroids.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, F.R.G.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Bieber
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Dannenberg
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Prinz
authors: E P
authors: EP
authors: Rieber
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Stolz
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Braun-Falco
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ring
mesh_terms: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D007073:Immunoglobulin E