Epidermal Langerhans' cells and dermal dendritic cells in human fetal and neonatal skin: an immunohistochemical study.
The dendritic cells in skin biopsies from 36 fetuses (from 16 weeks' gestational age on) and neonatal infants of different ages were investigated using a number of markers for various cells of the immune system and immunohistochemistry. Epidermal Langerhans' cells were found in all cases in a predominantly basal localization. The number of OKT6-positive Langerhans' cells and the development of their dendritic processes gradually increased with age. Dermal dendritic cells were present as well. Both HLA-DR-positive and Leu-10-positive dermal dendritic cells were found in the superficial and deep dermis, often in a perivascular distribution. The OKT6-positive dermal dendritic cells were few in number and occurred only in the upper dermis.
D000005:Abdomen; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface