title: Immunopathology of cutaneous human lupus erythematosus defined by murine monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Skin biopsy specimens obtained from involved skin from sixteen patients with systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus were studied. Murine monoclonal antibodies with a biotin-avidin-horseradish peroxidase staining system were used. The findings consisted of a marked reduction in the number of epidermal Langerhans cells defined by surface antigens, reduced HLA-DR (Ia-like) antigens on the surface of dermal capillary endothelium, and mononuclear cell infiltrates characterized by a predominance of helper T lymphocytes and an increase in the number of mononuclear phagocytic cells. B lymphocytes were rarely identified. The number of T lymphocytes within the dermis correlated inversely with both the number of HLA-DR-positive epidermal Langerhans cells (p less than 0.01) and the HLA-DR staining of dermal capillary endothelium (p less than 0.01). These findings suggest that a T lymphocyte-mediated immune response associated with a reduction in Langerhans cells and capillary endothelium HLA-DR antigens is involved in the inflammatory process of lupus erythematosus skin.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal