title: The in vitro effect of retinol on human gingival epithelium. II. Modulation of Langerhans cell markers and interleukin-1 production.
abstract: The in vitro influence of retinol on the markers of gingival Langerhans cells (LC) was investigated using an organ culture system. Retinol at a dose of 5 micrograms/ml produced an increase in the density of T6-positive cells within the epithelium which peaked during the first 24 h of culture. LC HLA-DR and ATPase markers were maintained for the same period, while all markers were depressed after 72 h. These effects were not seen in explants cultured in conventional or alcohol-enriched media, in which all markers were lost in an exponential fashion. In addition to modulation of LC markers, retinol treatment also prolonged the expression of HLA-DR antigens by gingival keratinocytes. These findings, together with the augmented production of interleukin-1-like activity by retinol-treated gingival organ cultures suggest that low doses of retinol may alter immune reactions within epithelia via stimulation of both keratinocytes and LC.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000032:analysis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005881:Gingiva / Q000187:drug effects*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014801:Vitamin A; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases