Ia-positive dendritic cells form a tightly meshed network within the human airway epithelium.
In this report we have employed an alternative tissue-sectioning procedure which provides a plan view of intra-epithelial cell populations within the airway wall. Immunoperoxidase staining of such sections for class II MHC (Ia) antigen revealed the presence of a highly developed intra-epithelial network of Ia-positive dendritic cells, which was not evident employing conventional cross- or longitudinal tissue sections. This finding has important implications for the study of mechanisms underlying allergic and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract.
Holt
P G
PG
Clinical Immunology Research Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia.
Schon-Hegrad
M A
MA
Phillips
M J
MJ
McMenamin
P G
PG
D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II