title: Epidermal Langerhans cells in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: IgG-binding to the surface of Langerhans cells (LC) is a feature of primary Sjögren's syndrome and might be associated with qualitative and quantitative defects in LC. Fifteen patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and 15 healthy controls had a punch biopsy performed from clinically unaffected skin. LC were enumerated in epidermal sheets by an immunoperoxidase technique, as well as demonstrated by immunofluorescence in vertical sections, which were furthermore examined for in vivo deposits of immunoglobulins, fibrinogen and C3. A significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in number of LC, measured on epidermal sheets, was found in patients as compared with controls. Examination of vertical sections did not reveal abnormalities in morphology or localisation of epidermal LC. Intraepidermal IgG deposits were demonstrated in 7/15 patients. In vivo deposits were not found in any of the controls. The density of epidermal LC was not correlated to the presence of intraepidermal IgG deposits.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G