Differences in marker expression among branched histiocytic cells in T-cell areas of the lymphoreticular system and among their epidermis- and mucosa-associated equivalents.
Branched histiocytic cells of the epidermis, the oral and anal mucosa, the tonsillar crypt epithelium, the thymus and of the T-cell-dependent areas of lymph node, spleen, and tonsil were examined with immunohistochemical single- and double-staining techniques. The markers used were a monoclonal anti-T6-antibody, a monoclonal anti-HLA-DR-antibody, heteroantiserum to S-100 protein and peanut agglutinin. Anti-HLA-DR and peanut agglutinin reacted with a considerable number of branched histiocytic cells, whereas anti-T6 and anti-S-100 protein only stained relatively small subpopulations. Concerning the population of branched histiocytic cells, double-staining revealed that the tissue distributions of all the markers used overlapped each other to various degrees; this was demonstrated by the different numbers of double-stained cells obtained in the experiments using all six possible combinations of primary reagents. The number of branched histiocytic cells co-expressing the markers varied depending upon marker combinations, types of tissue and microenvironment. We suggest that much of the immunologic phenotype of branched histiocytic cells is dynamic rather than static.
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000166:cytology; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004817:Epidermis / Q000201:enzymology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*
D000941:Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007106:Immune Sera