title: Detection of distinct subpopulations of Langerhans cells by flow cytometry and sorting.
abstract: Flow cytometry was found to be a very appropriate tool for the study of Langerhans cells (LC), which represent a minor cell population (2-3%) of human epidermis, and allowed us to obtain new phenotypic, functional, and cell cycle data on these rare cells. The phenotypic analysis of cell surface antigens demonstrates the existence of two subpopulations of LC: the former is HLA-DR+ and OKT 6+ (about 90% of total HLA-DR+ cells) and the latter is HLA-DR+ and OKT 6- (about 10% of total HLA-DR+ cells). These subpopulations of LC are both able to stimulate the proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in the presence of keratinocytes i.e., in mixed skin lymphocyte reaction (MSLR). Analysis of the cell cycle could be performed on OKT 6+ LC. Results show that they can be found in the various phases of the cell cycle, suggesting that the large majority of Langerhans cells are able to proliferate in situ in normal human epidermis.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaigot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czernielewski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prunieras
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004247:DNA