Role of Langerhans cells in epidermotropism of T cells.
Certain T lymphocytes display a specific affinity for the epidermis (epidermotropism). Recent studies have suggested that Ia+ Langerhans cells (LCs) are possible targets for the epidermotropism. A variety of self-Ia-reactive cloned T cells were tested for their ability to migrate into the epidermis following intradermal inoculation into the footpads of syngeneic mice. Clone BB5 was chosen as representative of the epidermotropic T cells. We investigated whether the depletion of Ia+ LCs from the epidermis by tape-stripping could alter the migration of BB5 cells into the epidermis. The epidermal invasion of BB5 cells was markedly impaired in those mice whose LCs were depleted by 95% after repetitive tape-stripping. Because production of epidermal-derived thymocyte activating factor (ETAF) by the epidermal cells was augmented after repetitive tape-stripping, the diminished migration of BB5 cells into tape-stripped epidermis did not result from a decrease in ETAF production which is thought to attract T cells chemotactically. These results suggest that Ia+ LCs may play an inductive role in the preferential migration of T cells into the epidermis.
Shiohara
T
T
Department of Dermatology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Moriya
N
N
Saizawa
K M
KM
Nagashima
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007375:Interleukin-1