title: Behavior of cutaneous Langerhans' cells and skin reactivity after gold sodium thiomalate treatment of pemphigus vulgaris.
abstract: Skin biopsies from pemphigus vulgaris patients in the acute phase of disease and after successful GST therapy were studied in respect to their capacity to express OKT6, OKIa1 and HLA-DR antigens. In comparison to controls, the epidermis overlaying noninvolved skin contained significantly (p = 0.0001) fewer detectable Ia and T6 antigen-bearing Langerhans' cells. Lower epidermal Langerhans' cell density in comparison to controls was detected in both prednisolone-treated and untreated patients. A normalization of prior defective antigen expression was observed in patients in remittence after GST therapy. This correlated with a normal delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (Multitest Mérieux).
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate