title: Analysis of class II antigen expressing cells in cholesteatoma epithelium.
abstract: The present morphological study was designed to evaluate the significance of Langerhans cells in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. Biopsies of middle ear cholesteatomas were examined for Langerhans' cells expressing HLA-DR and anti-Leu 6 antigens by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies. No apparent difference in number of cells was observed when epithelium of cholesteatoma was compared with epithelium of healthy ear canals. Expression of HLA-DR antigens was detected on keratinocytes in Aspergillus flavus infected epidermis, used as a control tissue. This finding indicated an increased immunosurveillance of this tissue. However, no such expression of HLA-DR antigens was detected on epidermal cells of cholesteatomas. The results of the present study did not support the hypothesis of Langerhans' cells as having a primary role in the development of cholesteatoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jontell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edström
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000276:immunology*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens