Does radiation-induced abrogation of skin Langerhans cell functions lead to enhanced incidence of skin tumors in patients with genetic disorders of DNA repair?
A hypothesis is presented which states that persons with the genetic disorders xeroderma pigmentosum and ataxia-telangiectasia, manifested by a deficiency of DNA repair, develop cutaneous tumors due to the elimination of reticuloendothelial system cells (Langerhans cells) in the skin, and the subsequent loss of control of epidermal cellular elements.
Becker
Y
Y
Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000150:complications*; D004260:DNA Repair; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D014983:Xeroderma Pigmentosum / Q000150:complications*