title: Cutaneous infiltrates of histiocytosis X contain plasminogen activator-bearing epidermotropic dendritic cells different from Langerhans cells.
abstract: Plasminogen activators (PA) play an important role in cell migration and tissue degradation. Considering the strong epidermotropism of atypical mononuclear cells in histiocytosis X (HX) skin infiltrates leading to intraepidermal abscess formation, it was the purpose of this study to look for tissue-type PA (t-PA) and/or urokinase-type PA (u-PA) on HX cells. Four monoclonal antibodies against PA were used, employing the alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique on cryostat sections from four patients with HX. Twenty percent to 40% of infiltrating cells in the epidermis expressed the t-PA antigen. t-PA+ cells were present in the follicular centers of human tonsil, absent in normal epidermis and scanty in cutaneous infiltrates from mycosis fungoides and lupus erythematosus. Double labeling with anti-PA and T6 (CD1) or S100 protein revealed some of the HX cells to express both antigens (t-PA+ CD1+ or t-PA+ S100+). We conclude that cutaneous infiltrates of HX contain PA+ dendritic cells which are different from normal Langerhans cells and which may be responsible for the strong epidermal alterations in HX.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000032:analysis*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator